911 FAQ’s
WHAT TYPES OF INCIDENTS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO 911? - Any incident that
threatens health, life, or property should be reported to 911. Crimes that are in progress as well
as fires or medical problems requiring emergency assistance are some examples.
WHAT TYPES OF THINGS SHOULD NOT BE REPORTED TO 911? - We encourage citizens
to find alternative solutions to problems such as a cat in the tree, or power
outages. The 911 center dispatches public safety personnel to emergency situations. In most
cases, those personnel can not assist with the problems mentioned above. The 911 center is also
not prepared to give directions, weather reports or answer questions about school closings.
Remember, 911 is for emergencies. If the lines are tied up with non-emergency calls, you may
not be able to get help as quickly as you need it in your own emergency.
WHAT IF I’M NOT SURE WHETHER MY SITUATION IS AN EMERGENCY OR NOT? - We
realize that most citizens do not have public safety training. Any time you think you need
emergency assistance, or if you’re not sure, call us. We are trained to determine the severity of
situations and send appropriate help
WHY DOES THE 911 OPERATOR ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS? IF I CALL WITH AN
EMERGENCY, TIME IS CRUCIAL. ISN’T THE OPERATOR WASTING TIME BY ASKING
FOR SO MUCH INFORMATION? - 911 operators are trained to ask specific questions to
determine the most appropriate response by public safety officers. Normally your call is taken by
a Public Safety Telecommunicator who enters the information you give them into a computer system. Your call
information is then automatically routed to the appropriate dispatcher who often times dispatches
help to you before you ever hang-up with the call-taker.
WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AND I CAN’T SPEAK? HOW CAN 911 HELP ME?
- When you dial 911 from a traditional telephone, one that is wired into a house or other
building, the location from which you are calling is displayed on a computer screen in front of the
911 operator. If you can not speak, either because of a communications impairment, illness, or
crime in progress, a police officer is sent to the location to check for any trouble. If you are ill or
are being kept from talking by an intruder, leave the telephone off the hook. Any noise that we
can hear will help us determine the most appropriate response. Often, in cases of domestic
violence, the victim leaves the telephone off the hook and the dispatcher was able to determine
the nature of the situation more quickly and send the most appropriate law enforcement
response.
I HAVE A HEARING IMPAIRMENT AND CAN NOT COMMUNICATE OVER A REGULAR
TELEPHONE LINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED HELP IN AN EMERGENCY? - Every
dispatcher at Polk County Central Dispatch has been trained on the proper use of a TDD. There is never any
need to dial a separate number for TTD calls or to place these calls through a relay service. If
you need help, just dial 911. Our dispatchers are trained to answer TDD calls.
CAN I CALL 911 FROM MY CELLULAR OR PCS PHONE? - Yes, although wireless calls
present special problems for 911 centers and callers. Calls from wireless (cellular and PCS) calls
are sent to the 911 center closest to the cell site that your call is routed through. For example,
you may be in Polk County, place a 911 call on your cell phone and get Greene County
instead because the cell tower handling your call is actually in the Greene County. Be aware of
this possibility when placing cellular 911 calls. Your call may take a few extra minutes because of
the misroute.
Another thing to remember about wireless 911 calls is that your location is not automatically
displayed like it is on traditional phones; the address of the tower that is handling your call is
displayed. If you are not familiar with your exact location, it is crucial that you give as much
information about your surroundings as possible
The rule of thumb is that if you have access to a traditional telephone in an emergency, use it.
Although wireless telephone providers, the FCC, and 9-1-1 organizations are working together we
are still a few years away from making cellular 911 as effective as traditional 911 service.
WHAT TYPES OF INCIDENTS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO 911? - Any incident that
threatens health, life, or property should be reported to 911. Crimes that are in progress as well
as fires or medical problems requiring emergency assistance are some examples.
WHAT TYPES OF THINGS SHOULD NOT BE REPORTED TO 911? - We encourage citizens
to find alternative solutions to problems such as a cat in the tree, or power
outages. The 911 center dispatches public safety personnel to emergency situations. In most
cases, those personnel can not assist with the problems mentioned above. The 911 center is also
not prepared to give directions, weather reports or answer questions about school closings.
Remember, 911 is for emergencies. If the lines are tied up with non-emergency calls, you may
not be able to get help as quickly as you need it in your own emergency.
WHAT IF I’M NOT SURE WHETHER MY SITUATION IS AN EMERGENCY OR NOT? - We
realize that most citizens do not have public safety training. Any time you think you need
emergency assistance, or if you’re not sure, call us. We are trained to determine the severity of
situations and send appropriate help
WHY DOES THE 911 OPERATOR ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS? IF I CALL WITH AN
EMERGENCY, TIME IS CRUCIAL. ISN’T THE OPERATOR WASTING TIME BY ASKING
FOR SO MUCH INFORMATION? - 911 operators are trained to ask specific questions to
determine the most appropriate response by public safety officers. Normally your call is taken by
a Public Safety Telecommunicator who enters the information you give them into a computer system. Your call
information is then automatically routed to the appropriate dispatcher who often times dispatches
help to you before you ever hang-up with the call-taker.
WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AND I CAN’T SPEAK? HOW CAN 911 HELP ME?
- When you dial 911 from a traditional telephone, one that is wired into a house or other
building, the location from which you are calling is displayed on a computer screen in front of the
911 operator. If you can not speak, either because of a communications impairment, illness, or
crime in progress, a police officer is sent to the location to check for any trouble. If you are ill or
are being kept from talking by an intruder, leave the telephone off the hook. Any noise that we
can hear will help us determine the most appropriate response. Often, in cases of domestic
violence, the victim leaves the telephone off the hook and the dispatcher was able to determine
the nature of the situation more quickly and send the most appropriate law enforcement
response.
I HAVE A HEARING IMPAIRMENT AND CAN NOT COMMUNICATE OVER A REGULAR
TELEPHONE LINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED HELP IN AN EMERGENCY? - Every
dispatcher at Polk County Central Dispatch has been trained on the proper use of a TDD. There is never any
need to dial a separate number for TTD calls or to place these calls through a relay service. If
you need help, just dial 911. Our dispatchers are trained to answer TDD calls.
CAN I CALL 911 FROM MY CELLULAR OR PCS PHONE? - Yes, although wireless calls
present special problems for 911 centers and callers. Calls from wireless (cellular and PCS) calls
are sent to the 911 center closest to the cell site that your call is routed through. For example,
you may be in Polk County, place a 911 call on your cell phone and get Greene County
instead because the cell tower handling your call is actually in the Greene County. Be aware of
this possibility when placing cellular 911 calls. Your call may take a few extra minutes because of
the misroute.
Another thing to remember about wireless 911 calls is that your location is not automatically
displayed like it is on traditional phones; the address of the tower that is handling your call is
displayed. If you are not familiar with your exact location, it is crucial that you give as much
information about your surroundings as possible
The rule of thumb is that if you have access to a traditional telephone in an emergency, use it.
Although wireless telephone providers, the FCC, and 9-1-1 organizations are working together we
are still a few years away from making cellular 911 as effective as traditional 911 service.
