Calling 911
Calling 911
Nine-one-one is only to be used ONLY 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 9-1-1. It’s better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.
| Examples of When to Call 9-1-1: Medical Emergencies Heart attack or stroke House fire Domestic violence Burglary or theft in progress Car accident with life threatening injuries Suspicious activities Anything else that seems like an emergency! |
Do not call 9-1-1 for information when the power is out to report a broken fire hydrant when your water pipes burst to get a ride for doctor’s appointment for paying tickets for your pet as a prank |
Never Prank Call 9-1-1
It’s a prank call when someone calls 9-1-1 for a joke, or calls 9-1-1 and hangs up. If 9-1-1 lines or call takers are busy with prank calls, someone with a real emergency may not be able to get the help they need. In most places, it’s against the law to make prank 9-1-1 calls.