Lesson 1: GENERAL EMERGENCY INSTRUCTION
USING YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY PHONE SYSTEM
All areas of the world have an emergency phone system. It may be an enhanced 911 system, which only handles emergency calls, or it may be the general phone number of your local police or sheriff's department. It's important to know your local emergency number, and keep it posted in a conspicuous area, especially if it's a seven (or more) digit number you may have trouble remembering.
Almost all emergency situations require emergency services. Even if it turns out medical attention isn’t necessary, it’s better to be safe, rather than sorry. In situations such as car accidents or fires, other emergency personnel (such as police officers and firefighters) will need to be on the scene. In the case of an undetermined incident, the police may be better able than we to determine the cause of the incident. In addition, an incident (either determined or undetermined) may be the result of criminal activity. The police make this determination. Most of the time, in ANY sort of incident (car accident, fire, undetermined incident, etc.), the police will be involved, if only to assess if law enforcement services are necessary.
When you call 911, make sure you have the following information at hand:
*Your name. The dispatcher will need to know to whom he or she is speaking.
*The location and phone number from which you’re calling. This is the most important information you can give, since this is what leads emergency personnel to your emergency. Emergency phone systems and your local police are very discreet, and respect your privacy. Giving your name, phone number, and location should not be a worry--unless you're a conscientious arsonist calling to report your latest blaze!
*What happened. This allows the dispatcher to send the appropriate emergency personnel and vehicles to your emergency.
*The number of victims and their conditions. This will give a heads-up to Emergency Medical Services on what to expect when they arrive at the scene. For instance, reporting a severe car accident involving multiple vehicles and victims would ensure the dispatch of more than one emergency vehicle to the scene, as opposed to a single victim requiring only one emergency vehicle.
*First aid, if any has been administered. This also helps the EMS understand what has been done for the victims so far.
Be sure to stay on the line with the dispatcher until he or she tells you it’s ok to hang up. Usually, you’ll be asked to stay on the line until medical or law enforcement personnel arrive.
