The Basics of 9-1-1: Things to Remember When Calling 9-1-1 in an Emergency

We are all taught at a young age how to call 9-1-1. We are also taught what is an emergency and what is NOT an emergency. But as we get older, we sometimes tend to forget some of the things we learned as kids. In this blog we will review the basics of 9-1-1 so that when you are in an emergency, you can ensure you are prepared for whatever comes your way. 

When should I call 9-1-1?

Here we will break down the basics of what is considered an emergency and what is not an emergency. Remember, only call 9-1-1 for emergencies. Leave the other important calls or needs of assistance for 311 to handle or provide you with the right entity you need to reach. And never use 9-1-1 as a joke.

An emergency is when something happens and you need the police, firemen, or an ambulance. Some examples of an emergency can include a house on fire as well as any type of accident where someone is hurt such as a car accident. These are just a few examples of when to call 9-1-1. But if, say, your cat is suck in a tree? That would not be considered an emergency, because cats cans get down from trees on their own.

Below are some important tips to remember.

WHEN to call 9-1-1:

·       When there are any lives at risk

·       When you need the police, fire department, or paramedics

When you should NOT call 9-1-1:

·       If there is no emergency

·       For animals (except when they pose a threat to the safety of a person)

·       As a game or prank, or a joke

·       To practice

How do I call (or text!) 9-1-1?

Phones come in all shapes and sizes. Different types of phones include landlines, cell phones, and voice-over IP phones.  To call 9-1-1 on a corded landline phone, pick the phone up off the receiver and then you will hear a dial tone. Push the “9” button, push the “1” button, and then push the “1” button again. Wait for it to ring and connect you with 9-1-1 for help!

The phones that have no curly cords and that you can take all over the house are called cordless phones. These phones have a base and a cord attached to the wall. These are still landline phones, though, and not considered cell phones. To call 9-1-1 on a cordless phone, press the on or talk button, wait and listen for the dial tone, and then push the "9" button, push the "1" button, and then push the "1" button again. Then, the 9-1-1 call-taker will answer your call for help.

There are also many variations of cell phones, but the most used today is the smart phone with a touch screen. To call for help, find the keypad or also known as dial pad, push the “9” button, push the “1” button, and then push the “1” button again, then press the send button to connect the call. The send or “on” button is usually green or has a green icon of a phone.

What do I say when 9-1-1 answers my call for help?

It can be nerve-wrecking to call 9-1-1 for help in an emergency. You want to make sure you give all the important information and get someone (or you) help in an emergency as quickly as possible. Here are some tips to help children remember what to do when they are on the phone with 9-1-1:

·       Remember to remain calm and speak slowly.

·       Tell the 9-1-1 call-taker what is wrong and where you need help (the address of the emergency, or landmarks, cross streets, or mile-markers).

·       Speak clearly when the 9-1-1 call-taker asks you questions and answer them as best you can.

·       Stay on the phone until the 9-1-1 call-taker tells you it is ok to hang up.

Remember, if you ever need to call 9-1-1, a friendly and helpful call-taker is ready to assist you. For educational videos on 9-1-1, please visit our YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/CellPhoneSally911.

Hurricane Preparedness Month: What You Should Do to Prepare

Hurricanes can leave a destructive path wherever they go. Hurricane season runs from the months of June through November which makes now a great time to be prepared in case of a hurricane emergency. By knowing which actions to take before a hurricane hits, you will not only be better prepared, but it will increase your chances of survival and safety.

The primary hazards from tropical hurricanes, also known as cyclones, are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents. The most devastating destruction occurs from flooding. Below are some tips to assist you in preparing for hurricane season and if a hurricane were to hit your area.

Make a Plan

It is so important to have a plan in place. Putting a plan together for your family will have you better prepared in the emergency situation if and when it occurs. With your family plan you should be able to answer the following questions:

·       What is my shelter plan?

·       What is my evacuation route?

·       What do I need in my emergency preparedness kit?

·       Where will I get status updates on what is going on in my area?

·       How will I communicate with my household family members?

Gather Supplies

Sometimes when an emergency like a hurricane hits, you might go a few days without electricity or access to stores and other ways of getting resources that you are used to doing. That’s why it is important to gather some supplies that you keep in an emergency preparedness kit. For some great ideas on what to include in this kit, visit https://www.ready.gov/kit.

Recognize Warnings and Alerts

There are several ways to stay alerted on potential weather threats. One of those warning systems that works really well is from FEMA. If you go to https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app you can get signed up to receive alerts in your area.  Not only does the app provide individuals with real-time information on what is going on, but it also provides places for emergency shelter as well as emergency safety tips.

Strengthen Your Home

Another important tip is to make sure your home is also prepared for a weather disaster. Some examples of things you can do to prepare:

·       Declutter drains and gutters

·       Bring in outside furniture

·       Consider purchasing hurricane shutters for your windows

These are a few tips to help you be better prepared in a hurricane emergency. For more tips, please visit the www.ready.gov website. If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1.

What You Need to Know About Texas Kari’s Law and Federal Kari’s Law

The story of Kari Hunt has come a long way. It is a story that has touched many hearts with sadness. It has also had many people join Hank Hunt’s (her father) fight for direct access to 9-1-1 without having to dial an additional digit from a multi-line telephone system (MLTS). Most of these phones are found in hotels, offices and many businesses. Kari’s story ends in success but started as a tragedy no father should ever have to endure.

BACKGROUND OF KARI’S LAW

Kari Hunt, daughter of Hank Hunt, was killed by her estranged husband in a motel room in Marshall, Texas in 2013. At the time, Kari’s 9-year-old daughter tried to call 9-1-1 for help four times from the motel room phone, but the call never went through. Why? Kari was doing what she was taught, because we teach children to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. We do not teach them that they need to dial “9” for an outbound line before being able to dial 9-1-1. Sadly, Kari died that day when her life could have been potentially saved if her daughter had been able to get through to 9-1-1.

TEXAS KARI’S LAW

Hank could not let her death be in vain. He started an incredible grassroots effort in Texas to get Kari’s Law enacted that would allow a person to dial 9-1-1 without having to push any additional digits first. He reached out to local officials and started a petition online. And his hard work paid off. Public officials, 9-1-1 employees, and citizens noticed and pushed for a law to change how MLTS phones are set up to ensure a person can dial 9-1-1 and get help right away. On May 15, 2015, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 788 into law. The law ultimately represents the culmination of the enormous efforts for change in the aftermath of the death of Kari.

The law and the rule require a business service user (BSU) to configure their MLTS for direct dialing to 9-1-1 without any initial digit, prefix, or access code to reach an outbound line.  Compliance with the law began on September 1, 2016.  The primary reason a rule was put into place was to implement the statutory waiver process under which a BSU can obtain a one-year waiver of the Texas Kari’s Law’s direct dialing requirements. To obtain a waiver, a BSU must timely submit an affidavit stating that: (1) The business service user made a good faith attempt to reprogram or replace the telephone system; and (2) Reprogramming/replacing of a non-compliant telephone system would be unduly and unreasonably cost prohibitive.

For more resources on Texas Kari's Law, including requesting a one-year waiver, please visit www.texas911.org. Additionally, CSEC has created a Texas Kari's Law Toolkit which includes a brochure, multiple PSAs and other helpful items in educating those to comply with Kari’s Law.

FEDERAL KARI’S LAW

Texas might have been one of the first states to create a Kari’s Law, but many other states followed suit. More and more support for a federal Kari’s Law was in the works. On February 16, 2018, Congress enacted the federal Kari’s Law Act of 2017 (Federal Kari’s Law) requiring direct dialing 9-1-1 access and notification with respect to any new MLTS. Federal Kari’s Law applies to a person (1) engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing, selling, or leasing MLTS; or (2) engaged in the business of installing, managing, or operating a MLTS.

The law and the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) regulations implementing the law are forward looking and apply only with respect to MLTS that are manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after February 16, 2020. For more information on the Federal Kari’s Law please visit https://www.fcc.gov/mlts-911-requirements.

Refrain from Letting Young Children Play with Deactivated Cell Phones

When we deactivate phones, meaning they do not have service through a phone provider, it's common to think they won't work in any way. But that is not the case. Deactivated cell phones, as long as they have a charge, can call 9-1-1. 

Why is this important to know? 

Being aware that an old cell phone can call 911 is important for a few reasons. On the positive side, if you couldn't afford service and had to shut it off, you at least have a way to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. The negative side of this is knowing anyone could accidentally call 9-1-1 from a deactivated cell phone. And this unfortunately clogs up 9-1-1 for real emergencies. This is why it important not let kids play with old cell phones that are deactivated. 

Using an old cell phone without a service contract presents challenges when contacting 9-1-1 as well. If you get disconnected from 9-1-1 while on the phone with them, the 9-1-1 dispatcher will not have a way to call you back since it is a deactivated phone therefore there is no number associated with it. Not only that, but older cell phones might not have up-to-date GPS technology, which means the dispatchers won't know where to locate you unless you can tell them.

What Happens if you or your child call 9-1-1 from a Deactivated Phone?

If someone accidentally calls from a deactivated phone, it is extremely important to stay on the line so you can let the 9-1-1 dispatcher there is no real emergency. But more importantly, simply don't let children play with deactivated phones. 

April Marks 9-1-1 Public Education Month and Recognizing National Telecommunicator Week

9-1-1 Education Month in April serves as an important time for 9-1-1 public educators to remind communities of what is considered an emergency as well as how and when to call for help.  The second full week in April also serves as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12-18, 2020). This week recognizes the incredibly hard and dedicated work telecommunicators and dispatchers do every single day to serve and assist the public in emergency situations. 

Telecommunicators, also known as call-takers or dispatchers, are individuals who work for 9-1-1 and answer incoming emergency calls and/or texts and, then in turn, ensure the caller gets the appropriate emergency response needed. Telecommunicators answer many tough 9-1-1 calls throughout their career and we should all tip our hats to them and recognize them for their commitment to public safety.  

In 2008, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to increase national awareness about the importance and appropriate use of 9-1-1 and created a month dedicated solely to 9-1-1 education. There have been many changes recently to laws or technology that affect 9-1-1 and it’s important you stay informed on these important topics.

Below are some great topics to share information on during the month of April:

Call if You Can, Text if You Can’t

Throughout the year, more and more regions across the United States have been or are now providing text to 9-1-1 services. This service is really vital to the deaf and hard of hearing community, or to someone in an emergency situation that would be compromised if they were to speak out loud. While text to 9-1-1 is available in many areas, it is not available in all areas. Keep in mind that if you do text to 9-1-1 and it is NOT available in your area, you will receive a bounce back message instructing you to please call 9-1-1 for help.

Know Your Location

Many people have smart phones these days. And on these smart phones we have maps that show us where we are, so it doesn’t seem far-fetched to think that if we have GPS in our phone, then 9-1-1 should be able to find us when we call. This is actually not the case. When you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone/smart phone, dispatchers are only able to see approximately where you are and not specifically where you are located. Remember to always be aware and know your location. Look for mile markers, landmarks, cross streets and addresses on buildings. 9-1-1 is currently updating the technology and infrastructure that will change this all over the country called Next Generation 9-1-1.

Federal Kari’s Law

A new law that business service users and the public should be aware of is the federal Kari’s Law. This law has to do with providing direct access to 9-1-1 from a multi-user telephone line (MLTS). On February 16, 2018, Congress enacted the federal Kari’s Law Act of 2017 (Federal Kari’s Law) requiring direct dialing 9-1-1 access and notification with respect to any new MLTS. The law only applies to MLTS that are manufactured, imported, offered for first sale or lease, first sold or leased, or installed after February 16, 2020. With this law in place, if you ever need to call 9-1-1 from an MLTS phone, you don’t have to worry about dialing an additional digit to get an outside line first. Simply dial 9-1-1 for help. For more information on this law visit https://www.fcc.gov/mlts-911-requirements. You can also find information here regarding the Ray BAUM Act that has to do with dispatchable location.

Remember to take some time at home and discuss how and when to call 9-1-1 with your children or grandchildren. View the Cell Phone Sally: Getting Help is Easy video here!

Below find the Proclamation from Texas Governor Greg Abbott recognizing 9-1-1 Telecommunicators!

Practice a Safe Holiday Season

It’s a time for giving, for remembering, and for being grateful for all your blessings as you gather round with loved ones. It can also be a time when predators prey on the unsuspecting. Compiled below is a list of safety concerns that will help you get through the holidays a little more safely.

Holiday Shopping Safety

·         Keep all doors locked and windows closed when you are away from your vehicle. This will help prevent thieves from easy access to your valuables.

·         Never leave your car unoccupied while it is running. (And as a reminder, don’t leave children unattended in the car either for their safety too)

·         When leaving your vehicle, make sure all valuables are out of sight. If you must leave something in your car, put it in the trunk where it is out of sight.

·         Always stay alert when walking to and from your car in parking lots and garages. Thieves will prey on those that are least expecting it or aware of it.

Fire Safety

·         Keep candles, matches and lighters out of reach of children.

·         Never leave burning candles unattended. Better yet, use battery-operated candles instead!

·         Do not burn candles near flammable items, especially near Christmas trees.

·         Check and clean the chimney at least once a year. That way when you use it for burning wood, the chimney will work properly.  

·         Do not overload electrical outlets as this can cause fires. Only plug in one high-wattage appliance into each outlet at a time.

Tree Safety

·         Decorate the tree with kids in mind; move ornaments that are breakable or have metal hooks toward the top of the tree.

·         Always use a proper step ladder when putting decorations up high.

·         When putting up lights, make sure there are no exposed wires, loose connections or broken sockets.

·         If you have a real tree, keep it fresh by watering it daily. Dry trees are a fire hazard.

·         Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

Poison Safety

·         Decorating the home with festive plants around this time of year is very popular. But some of these plants have berries that can be poisonous if enough are ingested. The most common are mistletoe berries, holly berries, poinsettias, and Jerusalem cherry. Please keep these out of reach of children.

·         Did you know if you swallowed a button battery, it could potentially explode in your stomach? If swallowed and undetected, the batteries can do serious damage to the gastrointestinal system. Keep these batteries out of reach of children. And if a child does ingest it, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate help. 

·         Food poisoning can be the pits! Check out the www.foodsafety.gov website for holiday food safety tips.

Travel Safety

·         Make sure all your doors and windows are locked in the home before leaving.

·         If you have an alarm, make sure to turn it on while you are out of town.

·         Have a neighbor or family member watch your house, pick up your mail and even park in your driveway periodically, if possible.

·         Leave a radio or television on so the house sounds occupied.

·         Make sure expensive items or gifts in your home are not visible through windows or doors.

·         If you have a Christmas tree, make sure it is placed in water or wet sand to keep it fresh.

·         Always remember to wear your seat-belt and practice cautious driving, especially if road conditions are bad.

·         Never drink and drive.

·         If you are involved in an accident, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 for help.

·         For winter driving safety tips, please visit the National Safety Council link here.

Whether you travel this holiday season or stay at home, please have a safe and cheerful time. If you ever find yourself in an emergency, please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for help.

Have a Safe Thanksgiving Holiday

As we get closer to celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with loved ones, we would like to remind everyone to practice safety first. It is also an excellent time of year to remind children what to do in case of an emergency. Check out some tips we have compiled for you to make your holiday a little safer and more prepared.

Traveling

Many families will be on the road traveling to visit friends and relatives for Thanksgiving. Please remember not to use your cell phone when you are driving. This includes no texting and driving either. Many cities have made it illegal to hold a hand-held device while driving. Keep yourself safe from a ticket and any dangers that come from not keeping your eyes on the road. It is best to always pull over if you need to talk or text on the phone. Distracted drivers and any harsh weather conditions can be a recipe for disaster. Remember to keep alert and dial 9-1-1 if you ever find yourself in an emergency. And always know your location. Install the FEMA app for Weather Alerts, safety tips, emergency checklists and more. Here is the link: FEMA APP

Cooking

People especially enjoy Thanksgiving because of all the wonderful food you get to eat and share with friends and family. When preparing any dishes, please remember to be smart and safe. Salmonella is the most common cause of food poisoning and while it’s normally not fatal, it is widespread. It is typically found in raw meats, poultry, eggs, milk, fish and their bi-products. Salmonella can only be destroyed by cooking food thoroughly and with temperatures above 140 degrees.

Food poisoning usually happens because of poor food handling practices. Symptoms can include fever, headache, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and vomiting. To keep bacteria from entering your body, wash hands, dishes, utensils, kitchen equipment and work surfaces before and after handling. If you think you might have been poisoned, please do not hesitate to contact poison control for help at 1-800-222-1222.

Another great tip is to replace batteries in your smoke detectors and ensure they are working properly in case of a fire emergency. You should also keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it. And if you are frying a turkey, please keep the fryer outside. This will eliminate the chance of anything catching fire.

Home Safety

Be smart if you plan to travel away from your home for the holidays. Do not post that you are going to be out of town on any social media sites. Secure all windows and doors so there is no easy entry into your home and set an alarm system if you have one. If you can, have a friend move your car occasionally while you are gone so it looks like someone is home. If you ever find yourself in an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 for help.

Check out the tips below from the National Fire Academy on what ages are appropriate for helping out in the kitchen.