9-1-1 Information

• One should call 9-1-1 whenever it is an emergency situation or one thinks it could be an emergency situation.

  • “Don’t hesitate to dial 9-1-1 anytime you encounter a life-threatening situation, or an event in which police, fire or emergency medical help is needed right away. These include, but are not limited to, fires, crimes in progress, serious car accidents with injuries, heart attack or stroke symptoms, abductions, and suspicious activity. If you are unsure of whether your situation is an emergency, go ahead and dial 9-1-1. The 9-1-1 call taker can determine if you need emergency assistance” (http://www.denco.org/faqs, viewed 1-4-2018).

• Kari’s Law

  • Only 9-1-1 is necessary to dial within the state of Texas rather than adding a prefix digit, such as 9, for multi-line businesses. (http://www.denco.org/karis-law, viewed 1-4-2018)
  • “Starting Sept. 1, 2016, Texas businesses with a multiline telephone system or private branch exchange (MLTS or PBX) must configure their systems to provide direct access to 9-1-1 services without requiring callers to first dial an extra digit to get an outside line. The law also requires all capable systems to notify a central location on site when a 9-1-1 call is placed. In cases where substantial costs are involved to achieve compliance, organizations may file for a one-year waiver by the Sept. 1 deadline”  (http://www.denco.org/karis-law, viewed 1-4-2018).

• One should not hang up when talking to 9-1-1 until the 9-1-1 operator says that it is OK to hang up the phone.

• It is imperative to answer all of the 9-1-1 operator’s questions, particularly one’s address when asked for their location.

• If one absolutely cannot speak to 9-1-1, texting might be an option as another way to inform 9-1-1 of an emergency situation, but make sure it is done safely (http://www.denco.org/9-1-1-tips, viewed 1-4-2018)!

• Other important 9-1-1 related information can be found here!

Although it is critical to call 9-1-1 in an emergency situation, it is also imperative to know and be able to perform CPR/ first aid in a moment’s notice since it takes some time for 9-1-1 to arrive at the scene.  Call 214-704-3891 to schedule your CPR/ first aid class today!

You can also learn about the latest CPR guidelines here!