Using 911 Properly Could Save Your Life!

Calling 911 IS NOT A GAME. It should be called ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY.

What is an Emergency?  

A true emergency is any fire, injury or illness which endangers a person's safety, or a crime in progress.  An emergency is life threatening and requires immediate fire, medical or police response.  An emergency is something that is occurring right now.  

In Colorado Springs you would call 911 to: 

•   SAVE A LIFE
•   PUT OUT A FIRE 
•   STOP A CRIME

Examples of an emergency are: any suspected or actual fire (get out and call), smoke detector sounding, domestic violence, child abuse, heart attack, suicide, poison, suspected or actual carbon monoxide poisoning, small child locked in car, CO detector sounding (get out and call), burglary in progress, weapon use or gunshots, illegal fireworks being shot into open fields, vegetation or at people, asthma attacks, explosions.

IN CASE OF FIRE GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND CALL FROM A NEARBY PHONE!

What is not an emergency?

If you are not calling to save a life, put out a fire, or stop a crime, your call would be non-emergent. 

Examples of non-emergent situations include: general police request, minor injuries like a cut finger, calling for the time/temperature or weather/road report, cats in trees, a tooth ache, accident without injury, stolen cars, noise complaints, traffic conditions, pilot light out, keys locked in car, child pranks, pilot light out, sound of fireworks. 

In non-emergent situations you would call the non-emergent dispatch phone number. In Colorado Springs this number is 719- 444-7000. You would call this number to report an event that is no longer in progress, or where no life threatening situation is occurring, such as a stolen bike.  

If you are unsure if your situation is an emergency it is okay to call 911. It is better to be safe than sorry.

When you call 911 DO NOT HANG UP (even if you accidentally misdialed). Stay on the line and wait for assistance. Emergency services are sent to your house to check on you if you hang up, which can result in delays to true emergencies.

When you call 911 they will ask you several questions. It is important to stay calm. You should know:

• The address of the emergency
• The phone number from where you are calling
• The description of the emergency
• Your name
• Your phone number for future calls to obtain more information
• To answer the call taker's questions precisely and quickly
• You may be asked to stay on the phone to help provide information

Keep your address by the phone and ask your neighbors to do the same.

USING 911 PROPERLY COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Other important non-emergency numbers in Colorado Springs