9-1-1 in the News!

Normal Procedures for 9-1-1 Calls and Coronavirus Changes to Anticipate

03/17/2020

Under normal circumstances a 9-1-1 phone call is reserved for an emergency that needs a response by the police department, fire department or medical assistance right away. Everyone from children to adults are taught and reminded that 9-1-1 calls by phone are reserved for serious, immediate needs. However, the tool is fundamentally influenced by how a caller perceives a situation occurring, and that subjectivity can sometimes lead to calls that don’t really meet the definition of a bona fide emergency. That then causes unnecessary load on emergency dispatchers and responders who have to filter these non-emergency calls out.