No one likes to think that something might happen to someone we care about. But whether we like it or not, emergencies do happen - and they always seem to happen at the worst possible time. They occur when we least expect them, and they require us to think and respond quickly.

Some years ago, people had to call separate telephone numbers whenever they needed help. For fires, they called the city or county fire department. For crimes, they contacted the city or county police or sheriff. For medical emergencies, they called their doctor or an ambulance. All these different phone numbers were confusing - and lengthened the time it took for someone to respond to the emergency.

For all of these reasons and more, the U.S. government and the phone company worked together to designate a "Universal Emergency Number" that would be routed to a central location from which the appropriate emergency response people could be dispatched. That's when 911 was created as a short, easy number to remember for any emergency.

When to Call 911

Dial 911 only in an emergency. Think of an emergency as only a situation in which someone needs immediate help from the police or sheriff, the fire department, or an ambulance because he or she is in danger or has been seriously injured.

Never dial 911 as a joke. In many places, dialing 911 as a prank is a crime. Officials estimate that as much as 75% of the 911 calls they receive are not real emergencies. Obviously, every time a 911 operator has to take a call like this, it could delay someone else who really needs the service getting through to an operator. Emergency dispatchers stress that you should never call 911 for information, for directory assistance, for your pets, to pay a traffic ticket, or when you're just bored and want to talk to someone.

Most, but not all, 911 areas have a system in place that automatically traces the phone number so that the operator knows the address from where the call was made. If you ever dial 911 by mistake, don't just hang up. Tell the operator what happened so that he or she knows that there is no real emergency. That way, the emergency dispatcher will not have to send someone to your address just to check out if there's a problem.

You should always call 911 if someone is severely injured or his or her life is threatened in some way. That includes if there's a fire, if someone has had an accident, or if you see a crime being committed. Don't hesitate to call 911 if a friend has taken drugs or done something else that has endangered a life. You may be afraid you'll get your friend in trouble. In an emergency situation, however, making the call could save your friend's life or someone else's. That's a lot more important than whether someone is embarrassed about getting caught.

If you're ever in doubt and no adult is around to ask, it's better to call 911 and let the operator decide if it's a real emergency than to take the chance that someone who needs help doesn't get it quickly.

How to Use 911

When you call 911, the emergency dispatch operator may ask what, where, and who questions such as:

*"What is the emergency?" or "What happened?"

*"Where are you?" or "Where do you live?"

*"Who needs help?" or "Who is with you?"

The operator needs to know the answers to these and other questions to determine what type of emergency workers should be sent and where to send them. Give the operator all the relevant information you can about what the emergency is and how it happened. If the person is unconscious or has stopped breathing, the 911 operator may give you instructions for immediate help that you can provide, such as administering CPR or clearing the person's breathing passage.

Even though you may be scared or nervous, it's important to stay as calm as you can when you call. Speak slowly and clearly so that the 911 operator can understand you and knows what kind of help is needed. Stay on the phone and do not hang up until the operator tells you it's OK to do so. That way, you can be sure that the operator has all the information that's needed to get help to you fast.

Safety Tips

If you're ever in charge while your parents are out, you can be prepared in advance for emergencies. This is also important if you ever babysit for others, or help care for an elderly person or someone with a heart condition.

Make sure there's a list of emergency numbers near each telephone in the house. Most areas in the United States are covered by 911 service. However, if you live somewhere that does not have 911 service, it's especially important to have numbers for the police department, the fire department, and emergency medical services handy. Also keep on hand numbers for adults you should call. For instance, if you're babysitting, make sure you have the number and location where the parents will be and, if possible, a cell phone or pager number.

Know what medications someone you're caring for might need, including prescriptions for breathing or heart problems. Also keep on hand information about medical conditions as well as insurance information. It's a good idea to have all this information written down near the phone so that you can find it quickly if you need it.

Be prepared by knowing where the first-aid kit is in the house and how to use it. It's a good idea to take a first-aid class to learn what you can do yourself to help someone in an emergency.

Dealing with an emergency can be scary. You can take away some of the fear factor by making sure you and other people in your house are prepared and know what to do. When you're all prepared, it helps make everyone just a little safer if an emergency does come up.

Reviewed by: Steve Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: November 2002