You should always call 9-1-1(see Note About Cell Phones below) to report an emergency, but only an emergency.
ABOUT THE 9-1-1 SYSTEM
The 9-1-1 system is designed to quickly and efficiently dispatch everyone—police, fire, ambulance—needed to assist with an emergency. Top priority is placed on answering 9-1-1 lines.
However, abuse of 9-1-1 is an increasing problem for dispatch centers throughout the country. (It is estimated that as many as 60 percent of calls received at 9-1-1 are non-emergency calls). When a 9-1-1 operator gets a call asking what the temperature is or whether or not there was just an earthquake, the 9-1-1 operator is prevented from assisting someone whose life may be at stake.
The most important thing you can do to help ensure prompt emergency response is to never call 9-1-1 unless it is an emergency.
WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY?
It's clear by the type of calls 9-1-1 centers routinely receive that there is confusion as to what constitutes an actual emergency. An “emergency” is an event that poses immediate, significant threat to life and/or property:
- A heart attack or stroke is an emergency; a broken finger is not.
- A teen threatening his parent is an emergency; a teen refusing to obey his parent is not.
- A noise from your neighbor that sounds like a violent physical encounter is an emergency; a noisy party is not.
WHEN SHOULD I CALL 9-1-1?
Below are some examples to serve as a guideline in determining when to call 9-1-1 and when not to:
Do CALL 911
for the following:
- Traffic accident with known or suspected injuries
- Life-threatening medical situations
- A fire in your stove, dryer, chimney, or any other part of your home
- Fire or smoke from an identified location (not just “a lot of smoke in the air”)
- In-progress or just-occurred crimes
- Domestic violence
- Fights, using fists and/or weapons
- Earthquake-related injuries or property damage that is life threatening
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Do NOT call 911
for the following:
- Non-injury traffic accident
- Directions to hospital or clinic—call the hospital or clinic
- Unruly children
- Noise disturbances, including parties or loud music
- To request the batteries in your smoke detector be changed
- Was that just an earthquake?
- Injured and/or dead animals—call Animal Control (707) 565-7100
- Illegal parking/abandoned vehicles
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WHAT IS THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER I SHOULD CALL?
Police departments and fire departments have non-emergency numbers listed in the phone book, in the government listings at the front of the white pages. To report a non-emergency event requiring law enforcement intervention, both the Windsor Police Department and the Sonoma County Sherriff dispatch can be reached at (707) 565-2121.
If you live in another agency’s jurisdiction, look in your phone book’s government listing for your local agencies’ non-emergency numbers.
A NOTE ABOUT CELL PHONES
Cell-phone calls to 9-1-1 are routed through the CHP dispatch center in Solano County and have to be transferred back to Sonoma County for dispatch, which creates a delay even when answered promptly. In addition, cell phone calls to 9-1-1 may be placed on hold for a minute or more. Therefore, it is a good idea to store the Sonoma County Sherriff’s dispatch number (707) 565-2121 in your cell phone and use that number when using your cell phone to report emergencies in Sonoma County.
If you live in a community served by a City police and/or fire department, look in the phone book or contact that agency or look on the agency’s website for the appropriate seven-digit emergency number.
A FEW RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN TALKING WITH THE 9-1-1 OPERATOR
When you have to dial 9-1-1 be prepared to stay on the line and answer the questions asked of you by the dispatcher. Remember, dispatchers are trained to gather the information needed to determine the most appropriate response by police, fire and/or medical personnel. The answers to questions that might seem unrelated to your emergency may provide information necessary to ensure the safety of the firefighters and/or police officers who are responding.
In most cases, even while you are still being asked questions, the appropriate agencies have already have been dispatched and are on the way.
Stay on the line until the dispatcher tells you it is OK to hang up. If it is not safe for you to stay on the line, set the phone receiver down without hanging up. This will allow the dispatcher to possibly hear any background noises that might assist the responding units.
WHAT IF I CALL 9-1-1 BY MISTAKE?
If you accidentally misdial 9-1-1, do not just hang up. Stay on the line until a dispatcher answers, and then tell the dispatcher it was an accident. This will prevent the 9-1-1 operator from having to call you back and inquire as to wheather there is an emergency, saving the dispatcher time to handle actual emergencies.
