Emergencies don’t happen very often. But when they do, you want to get help fast. No one wants to spend time looking up the phone number. That’s why 911 was created — to make it easy. Dialing 911 on your villa phone is now the fastest way you can get help for yourself or someone else. Were you aware that here in Casa we are able to report any emergencies that requires immediate assistance by just dialing 911 from your home number? The service is available 24/7 and is managed through Costasur’s security department.
As you might know, the three-digit telephone number “9-1-1” has been designated as the “Universal Emergency Number,” for many countries around the world and is used to request emergency assistance. It is intended as to give the public a fast and easy access to any Public Safety Answering Point.
Not too many years ago, people had to find the right phone number in an emergency; fire department, police station or ambulance. Finding a number for any of these emergency workers could be very confusing — especially if a person was in a hurry or in an unfamiliar area or situation. Today, it’s as simple as dialing 911. When you call 911, an emergency operator — called a dispatcher — immediately connects you to the person you need.
WHEN TO CALL 911
An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department or ambulance, when immediate action is required: someone’s health, safety or property is in jeopardy or a crime is in progress.
- Events that involve an immediate threat to a person or property: screams, attacks, gunshots, fires, car accidents with injuries or other medical emergencies
- A crime in progres, such as a fight, break and enter (if there is a suspect on scene) or a report of an impaired driver
- A serious crime that has just occurred (examples: sexual assault or robbery)
- A suspicious circumstance that may indicate an imminent criminal act (examples: prowler, vandal)
- When there’s been a car accident
- If someone suddenly seems very sick and is having a hard time speaking or breathing or turns blue
- If someone collapses or passes out
- If someone’s house is on fire
Sometimes people are confused about when to call an emergency number like 911. These are examples of when not to call:
- Reporting a crime with no suspect (example: theft of a license plate)
- Don’t call when the power is goes out
- Reporting a crime with suspect, but suspect is not on the scene (example: fraud)
- Reporting a serious crime with suspect, but with a lengthy delay (example: assault that occurred last night at a bar)
- Non-emergency in progress (example: noisy party)
- On-going crime issues or crimes that are not in-progress (examples: graffiti or ongoing drug dealing with no suspect on scene)
- A suspicious circumstance that may indicate an ongoing criminal activity
If you dial 911 by mistake, or if a child in your home dials 911 when no emergency exists, do not hang up—that could make 911 officials think that an emergency exists, and possibly send responders to your location. Instead, simply explain to the call-taker what happened.
WHEN CALLING 911
It is very important that the caller remain calm. Sometimes this is very hard, but as you might know it is difficult to understand someone that is not calm. The dispatchers understand that you have an emergency and will do their best to assist you. They will need to ask the caller a series of questions to understand what is happening, such as these:
Where – Where is this happening? • What – What is happening? • Who – Who is this happening to? • When – When did this happen? • Why – Why is this happening? • Weapons – Are there any weapons?
Remember, the call-taker’s questions are important to get the right kind of help to you quickly. Be prepared to follow any instructions the call-taker gives you. Many 911 centers can tell you exactly what to do until help arrives, such as providing step-by-step instructions to aid someone who is choking or needs first aid or CPR. Do not hang up until the call-taker instructs you to.
Be sure all children in your home know what 911 is, how to dial from your home, and to trust the 911 call taker. Make sure your child is physically able to reach at least one phone in your home. When calling 911 your child needs to know their name, parent’s name, telephone number, and most importantly their address. Tell them to answer all the call takers questions and to stay on the phone until instructed to hang up.
Calling 9-1-1 for a non-emergency situation ties up important lifelines meant for people or property in immediate jeopardy or when a crime is in progress. Let’s help keep 9-1-1 lines free for emergencies that require immediate response by dialing ‘0’ (operator) who will transfer you to our local non-emergency numbers.
For more information, please visit Costasur’s website.
