911 What to Say

In an Emergency, Remember to Call 9-1-1

  • Dial 9-1-1
  • Stay calm
  • State which emergency agency you need:
    • Police
    • Fire Department
    • Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Ambulance
  • Speak clearly
  • State your emergency
  • State your address - It is very important to verify the address
  • Stay on the line
  • Do not hang up until the operator tells you to do so. They may ask questions regarding the emergency, or an EMS Dispatcher may give you instructions to help stabilize the patient before the ambulance gets to your location.
  • If you can, stay by the phone in case the 9-1-1 call-taker needs to call you back.

What to Do if You Can't Speak

  • Stay Calm
  • Dial 9-1-1
  • Either leave the phone off the hook or make some sort of noise to let the dispatcher know there is an emergency.
  • With enhanced 9-1-1, providing your address allows the call-taker to dispatch police assistance to your location.

Dialing 9-1-1 on a Cellular/Wireless

  • When driving a vehicle and are involved in or witness an emergency, pull over to a safe location and dial 9-1-1.
  • Inform the call-taker of the location of the emergency, your phone number (including the area code), and your name. This information may not be displayed on the dispatcher's computer.
  • Use landmarks, such as mile markers or billboards, to describe the location of the emergency if an address is not available.
  • Be patient. Cellular/Wireless calls are not automatically routed to the correct agency. Oftentimes, you may need to be transferred to the proper agency in that area.
  • Stay on the line until the call-taker has all the necessary information.
  • Be sure to leave your phone on, in case they need to call you back for more information.

Ideas to Help in the Home

  • Keep your phone at an easy-to-reach level, like on a coffee table.
  • A cordless phone offers mobility in the home.
  • Write your address in large print on or near your phone
  • Ensure your address is visible on both your mailbox and the front of your house.
  • Do not program 9-1-1 into speed dial. It could inadvertently be dialed.

9-1-1 is the telephone number to use in an emergency. It serves as your communication link to Police, Fire, and EMS!

There is only one telephone number to remember in an emergency, so you won't have to look up the number for Police, Fire, or EMS.

9-1-1 eliminates the need to determine which emergency agency to call.

Thanks to enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) technology, which displays your calling location, you don't have to speak to the dispatcher to provide your address; however, this information must still be verified.

All emergency agencies have integrated TDD/TYY terminals. TDD/TYY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf used to communicate with hearing-impaired callers.

All types of telephones, regardless of their style or age, can be used to dial 911. Pay Telephones can be used to dial 9-1-1 at no charge.

TDD/TYY (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf/Teletypewriter)

What Is and Is Not an Emergency

If your call is not an emergency, please call the Communications Center at (229) 431-2132.

Emergency

  • Fire
  • Crime in progress
  • Breathing Problems
  • Choking
  • Unconsciousness
  • Poisoning
  • Drowning
  • Stabbing
  • Other life-threatening situations

Not an Emergency

  • Minor accidents (no injuries)
  • Barking dogs
  • Burglarized properties not in progress
  • Power outages during a storm
  • Someone selling drugs not in progress
  • Loud Parties
  • Weather and road conditions
  • Keys locked in a vehicle
  • Runaways - missing persons
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