9-1-1

9-1-1

Table of contents

• 9-1-1
• Public Education:
• Teaching Kids about 9-1-1
• Using 911 when you are not comfortable with English
  • Roadside Safety Tips from Washington EMD:
• Boating
• Limits of 9-1-1 in a Disaster
• Backcountry

Public Education:

Washington EMD Education Matrials for 9-1-1
http://emd.wa.gov/e911/publications/911_pubed_for_county.shtml

Washington EMD: Request for Public Education Materials: http://emd.wa.gov/e911/publications/request_for_publications.doc

http://www.metrokc.gov/prepare/E911/e911_pubed.aspx

Teaching Kids about 9-1-1

911 for kids: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/er/911.html

Teaching your child how to use 911 http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/911.html

Using 911 when you are not comfortable with English

To access interpreter services:

Call 9-1-1 and in English, state that this is an emergency (either fire or medical) and what language (or dialect) you speak.

The operator will conference the call with an interpreter.

Let the interpreter control the conversation.

Educational cards explaining how to use 911 in: Amharic, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Vietnamese http://www.sngi.org/911.html

Roadside Safety Tips from Washington EMD:

Driving safety is your #1 priority. If you are in immediate danger, if possible, move to safety before calling 9-1-1.

Do not let your wireless phone distract you from driving.

Dialing 911 from a wireless phone: http://emd.wa.gov/e911/publications/911_and_wireless_phone.shtml

To ensure your safety and the safety of others:

Always buckle up and make sure others in your car are wearing seat belts.
Keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
If you must make or answer a phone call, pull off the road to a safe location.
Allow voice mail to handle your calls, and return all calls at your convenience.

You must provide your wireless phone number when placing a 9-1-1 call.

Boating

Calling 9-1-1 while boating: http://emd.wa.gov/e911/publications/911_boating_emergency.shtml

Limits of 9-1-1 in a Disaster

http://www.metrokc.gov/prepare/E911/e911_emergency.aspx

Backcountry

Washington EMD 911 Wireless Phone Calls In the Wilderness: http://emd.wa.gov/e911/publications/911_wilderness_emergency.shtml
Who will I reach?
You need to know that wireless phone service may not be available in the wilderness. If service is available, your 9-1-1 call for help will be picked up by the nearest cellular tower in the most direct line of sight to your location. It could be picked up at a county 9-1-1 center, by a State Patrol dispatch, or even by the Canadian authorities. Since these call answering centers are all located outside the boundaries of the calling area, they would have no way of knowing from where you are calling unless you tell them. Be prepared to provide your location. Remember, help may be several hours away or longer. Use 9-1-1 only in case of an actual emergency.

Remember to:

Start out with a fresh, fully charged battery and carry extra charged batteries with you. Keep batteries warm for extra-long use.
Be prepared to give complete information about the nature of the emergency. You may only be able to make one call. Turn the phone off when not in use.
Establish a call schedule with the emergency center so there are specific times when you will have your phone turned on to receive calls or to make calls out.

Be sure you know:

Your location, including the trailhead and nearest city, destination or waypoints.
Your wireless phone number, including the area code.
How your wireless phone works. Instruct everyone in your party on how to use your phone. Your phone may be pre-programmed to dial 9-1-1 with one button. You could accidentally call 9-1-1 and not even know it. Handle your phone carefully to prevent the automatic misdialing of 9-1-1.
How to increase your signal strength, to include: pointing your antenna up; finding a clearing; gaining elevation; and turning your body you may be obstructing the signal.

Wireless phones should NEVER replace preparedness.

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