MAKING THE CALL TO 9-1-1
Remain Calm!

CALLING FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

In Cecil County 9-1-1 calls for Fire and Ambulance assistance are handled on site. Police calls are transferred by direct line to the Police Department that responds to that location. The 9-1-1 lines to the local police agencies are dedicated lines and have priority answering. Once the call is transferred, all of the data displayed to the 9-1-1 dispatcher is transferred to the receiving station. The 9-1-1 dispatcher will remain on the line until communication is established. If there is a situation where the caller hangs up, the dispatcher will immediately provide the police with the location and nature of the call.

Try to remain as calm as possible. Take a deep breath and speak clearly.

• Tell the dispatcher the nature of the emergency: I NEED THE (Police, Fire Department, Ambulance)
• If your house is on fire, LEAVE the house and call from a neighbor's or mobile telephone.
• Know where you are. If help is needed at another location, advise the dispatcher.
• Answer the questions the dispatcher asks. They are necessary to determine the help you need.
• Keep the answers short and to the point.
• Follow all instructions given to you by the dispatcher.
• Stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.
• Turn your outside lights on and if possible send someone out to direct the emergency personnel in.

What can I expect when calling for emergency assistance?

When receiving calls for medical services, the 911 emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) will ask a series of questions. The answers to these important questions are passed on to the units that respond to the medical emergency. This information helps them to determine the seriousness of the situation. If needed, the dispatcher will remain on the line with the caller to provide instructions for a number of emergencies including choking, childbirth, cardiac arrest, bleeding control, and unconcious or unstable patients.