How do I report an emergency?

Let the dispatcher control the conversation. Stay on theline until the dispatcher tells you it is okay to hang up.

The dispatcher will need to know where help is needed.

• In general, give the street address or intersection and city or town. Don't forget any apartment number or the name of the business.

• In rural areas, you can use distance in yards or miles to nearest address, cross street, or landmark.

• In remote areas give as much information as possible. If you have gone to a phone at another location the dispatcher may ask you to wait there to guide units to the scene.

   

The dispatcher will need the description of any persons or vehicles involved. We have a standard format we use for descriptions, so let the dispatcher guide you.

Describe one person at a time. Be as specific as you can. Remember words like "young," "old," "tall," or "short," are relative. Try to estimate. Is the young person in their mid teens or 20's? Is the tall person 5 foot 6 inches or 6 foot 6 inches?

For vehicles, was it a large car or small? Sedan or station wagon? Light color or dark? License plates are useful, but don't focus on it to the exclusion of noticing anything else, and please don't put yourself or others at risk to get the license number.

Please be patient if the dispatcher has to put you on hold. Sometimes we need to put one caller on hold to answer another call. We will finish assisting you as soon as we can.