Several weeks ago, I saw an online column entitled “What I wish you know about being a Paramedic.” I found myself silently nodding my head in agreement as I read the things that were all too true regarding the profession that I have dedicated my entire adult life towards. At the conclusion, I thought about how every occupation in America must have articles like this because every job has a unique set of challenges that outsiders might never see. I would love to read the same style article from the perspective of the teacher, the mechanic, or the power line worker. Then, I realized that there is so much the average person doesn’t know about our 911 system and how much of a mystery it must be to them that I have a chance to do just that.
We dial three numbers on our phone and first responders show up like magic, right? Reminds me of a cartoon I once saw in which an elderly lady was telling her friend about her Life Alert necklace and that all she had to do to “get a bunch of men at her house” was to push this little button. Of course, it goes a little deeper than that. Almost all counties in Mississippi now employ what is called an Enhanced 911 system, or E911. The E911 system is like an advanced caller ID function. As soon as a call from a home phone is connected to a 911 operator, there is a name, number, and address that is associated with the number pops up on a computer screen for the dispatcher to see.
Cell phones are a little trickier to pinpoint. Often, little information can be given about the location of the caller. Aside from what you see on television, there are no supercomputers generating satellite photos of exactly where you are calling from. Most often, the 911 operator must try to get the best information he or she can from the usually panicked caller. Moreover, if you are near a county line, your call might end up in the wrong county’s E911 center due to the nearest tower being in an adjoining county. Occasionally, even the entire state is wrong. I will never forget the night that I was in Hattiesburg and was dispatched to a medical emergency that was actually in Texas.
You can help the 911 operator out tremendously by remembering some easy steps. First, remain calm! I know that it is an emergency and you wouldn’t have called otherwise, but please know that we can’t send help if we don’t know where you are. In a calm, clear voice, tell the dispatcher if you need police, fire, or EMS (or all three) by stating the reason for the call. Next, let them know the EXACT location of the problem. Many police, firefighters, and EMS workers might not live in the area where the emergency is taking place and “near Johnson’s old barn” doesn’t help us find it any faster. Know your street address by heart and teach it to everyone in your house. If you are calling about a wreck on the roadway, be as specific as possible by telling the nearest street address or crossroad. Also, be prepared to give your name and phone number in cases they need to contact you after hanging up with 911.
Once the emergency crews are dispatched, you can do other things to speed up the process. If at night, turn on your outer porch light. If feasible, have someone stand at the driveway to guide responders inside. Also, make sure that your house numbers are clearly visible and correct. Consider placing them on your house or mailbox for ease of viewing. A one-dollar pack of mailbox lettering can save many valuable minutes during a crisis. Finally, call 911 back if anything has changed since the first call. It is entirely possible that the dispatcher might have new instructions for you to follow.
I constantly quiz my family on car trips by asking them if they had to call 911 right now, where would they tell them to go? It is a great game to play to make sure that we are all being situationally aware of what is happening around us. Furthermore, now is an excellent time to talk to your children about how and when to summon help and to learn their address. Although my tips seem like common sense, I know these are things every 911 operator wished you knew. Stay safe out there.
M. Eric Williams, MS, NR-P
Emergency Medical Faculty
Jones County Junior College
Questions/Comments: eric.williams@jcjc.edu
