Frequently Asked Questions
What is 9-1-1?
Nine-one-one is the number most people in the U.S. and some in International countries call to get help in a police, fire or medical emergency. A 9-1-1 call goes over dedicated networks to the appropriate 9-1-1 answering point (PSAP) for the caller's location, and trained personnel then send the emergency help needed.
What do you need to tell the 9-1-1 call taker?
- Stay calm and state your location.
- State your emergency.
- Do not stay anywhere that is unsafe for you.
- Make sure to answer questions clearly and make dispatcher aware of anything that could be dangerous to yourself or responders.
- The call taker generally will receive your callback number and address of a landline and sometimes a GPS location of a cellphone.
- Do not dial 911 for general information that is not an emergency. This is a class B misdemeanor in Texas under Texas Penal Code 42.061 Silent or Abusive Calls to 9-1-1 Service.
How can we find you?
- Landlines are a great benefit for structures as the telephone companies provide an address to the dispatcher to know your location.
- We are frequently able to locate a cellphone caller’s geographic location by the technology in the phone. This does not work as well within a structure. If you are using a cellphone to dial 911 and you can go outside, please do so.
What should I do if I accidentally dial 9-1-1?
Simply tell the call taker that you accidentally dialed 9-1-1, if you hang up, they may come looking for you.
Are VOIP or voice over IP telephones good?
Businesses are busy transferring from analog to VOIP or voice over IP telephone systems. The VOIP phone systems are frequently configured incorrectly providing the wrong address to the 911 call takers. We highly encourage you to discuss 911 during the contracting phase and make certain to test your system once complete.
Can 9-1-1 Centers help with Poisoning?
All 9-1-1 call centers should have the ability to contact a caller with the Poison Control Center.
What if a 9-1-1 caller does not speak English?
A 9-1-1 call taker has the ability to add an outside interpreter to assist in translation.
Can you text to 9-1-1?
In the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle, we are capable of receiving text messages. This slows down communication and response. Call if you can, text if you can’t.
Who pays for 9-1-1?
There are monthly fees for telephone service on landline, or cellphone bills. These monthly fees finance the costs of maintaining the 9-1-1 systems and networks. There is not any charge when you make a call.
Is our address correct?
Please give us a call and we will help you to be certain. Our toll-free number is 800-687-7911.
What to do for the kids?
- Educate your children how to dial 9-1-1 and what they should say.
- Teach them your address so they can provide that to the call taker.
- Do not let them play with your old cell phones as they can dial 9-1-1 from them.