In the guide issued by the Community Affairs Division of the New York City Police Department, the police indicated that 911 operators are currently receiving more training to better handle various emergency calls and incidents. Although these operators will receive more technical assistance, if the public can more accurately complete the following tasks when dialing 911, it will aid the police in responding quickly.
First, when dialing 911, the public must provide an address. The police state that the first priority when reporting an emergency is to provide the location of the incident, which is the most important information needed by the operator. Please inform the 911 operator of the exact location and the area where the incident occurred as much as possible. If you do not know the street address, please provide the street name, nearby intersecting street names, landmarks, or highways to help rescue personnel reach the location in need of assistance quickly.
Second, answer questions. After receiving a 911 call, the operator and dispatcher will ask you for more information to help them correctly notify the relevant response personnel and agencies. In some cases, the operator may also provide you with life-saving instructions over the phone, such as performing CPR. Additionally, you may be asked to repeat some information to the emergency services or fire department to assist those already en route to the scene.
Third, remain calm. Try to stay calm during the situation and provide as much information as possible. Remember, only by staying calm can you communicate clearly, allowing the operator and dispatcher to hear you and assist you.
Fourth, describe the emergency: Are you or others injured? What is the situation? Do you need medical assistance, police response, or other emergency aid? It is crucial to explain the nature and severity of the injuries: Is the injured person conscious? Are they choking? Is there bleeding? Describe to the best of your ability; if you cannot speak, ask someone else for help and put the phone on speaker mode.
Fifth, describe the perpetrator. If you witnessed a crime or became a victim, the first priority is to ensure your safety. Once you are safe, call 911 and provide detailed information about whether there is one or more suspects, whether there are weapons, the appearance, race, approximate age, height, weight, clothing type and color of the perpetrator, where the suspect is, or how they fled and in which direction. If the suspect is in a vehicle, describe the make, model, color, and size of the car. Even partial descriptions and incomplete license plate numbers are helpful to the police.
Sixth, keep the phone line open. Inform the operator of the phone number you used to dial 911. Please try to use a landline to call 911; if you are using a mobile phone, do your best to keep it on. Finally, utilize foreign language services; New York City 911 offers assistance in over 140 languages, so the public need not worry about not speaking English, as operators will provide on-the-spot translation services over the phone.
