When should you use 911?
Nine-one-one (911) is only to be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department, or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 911. It’s better to be safe and let the 911 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.
Do not call 911:
- for information
- for directory assistance
- when you’re bored and just want to talk
- for paying traffic tickets
- for your pet
- as a prank
If you call 911 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so they know there really isn’t an emergency.
Be prepared to answer questions from the communications officer. It is imperative for them to obtain as much information as possible in order to provide the correct emergency response and in the interest of responder safety.