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Using 911
You should only call 9-1-1 in EMERGENCIES - when you or someone else is seriously hurt or is experiencing life-threatening conditions. An emergency is any situation that requires the immediate assistance of a police officer, fire fighter or emergency medical services.
Emergency
- Crime in progress
- Fire
- Breathing problems
- Choking
- Unconsciousness
- Poisoning
- Drowning
- Stabbing
- Gun shot wounds
- Struck by vehicle
- Child locked in vehicle
Non-Emergency
- Minor accident (no injury)
- Barking dogs
- Burglarized property (ONLY if you know the property has no one inside and the Burglary is not in progress)
- Power outage
- Drug sale
- Loud Parties
- Weather and road conditions
- Scores for sporting events
- Runaways
- Legal advice
- Keys locked in vehicle (no child inside)
If your situation IS an emergency…
- Dial 9-1-1
- Clearly state where you are
- Calmly tell the operator which emergency agency you need:
- Police
- Fire
- Ambulance / Emergency Medical Service
- Clearly state what your emergency is.
- Give your address AND the nearest intersecting cross street (very important for verifying the address - example:
- I live in Needham at 237 CR 945 just north of Highway 18.
- If an address is not available, use landmarks such as billboards, mile markers, buildings, etc. to describe the location.
- Stay on the line - do not hang up until the operator has all necessary information and tells you it is okay to hang up.
The operator may ask you questions regarding the emergency or provide you with instructions for stabilizing a patient before an ambulance arrives. If possible, stay by the phone in case the 9-1-1 call-taker needs to call you back.
If you are in a situation that IS an emergency, but speaking would put you in more danger and you have a cell phone…
- Go to your text messaging application on your cell phone.
- Enter 911 as the recipient.
- In the message, state which emergency agency you need:
- Police
- Fire
- Ambulance/Emergency Medical Service
- Clearly state what your emergency is.
- Give your address AND the nearest intersecting cross street (very important for verifying the address) - example:
- I live in Monette at 123 Main Street near Highway 18
- I live south of Jonesboro at 1599 Highway 163 near County Road 422
- I live in Needham at 237 CR 945 just north of Highway 18.
- If an address is not available, use landmarks such as billboards, mile markers, buildings, etc. to describe the location.
The operator may ask you questions regarding the emergency. Please be sure to respond to any questions that the dispatcher may respond with to get additional information. If the message is longer than a single text message, it will be broken up into multiple message, but a dispatcher will respond to let you know that assistance is on the way.
Stay on the phone!
Don't hang up!
For Emergency Police Response dial: 911
When calling Jonesboro E-911 Dispatch to report a crime in progress, a suspicious or vehicle, please obtain the following information (if the information can be safely obtained):
Suspect Description
- Sex
- Race
- Age
- Height
- Weight
- Hair Color and Style
- Hat
- Eye Color
- Shirt
- Pants
- Shoes
Vehicle Description
- Vehicle Color
- Year
- Make
- Model
- Body Style
- Dents / Scratches / Identifying Markings
A Jonesboro E-911 Dispatch Operator will ask a series of questions pertinent to determining the appropriate response to your reported incident. The answers to these questions can often effect citizen and responder safety, so prompt and accurate responses greatly imrove the quality of our responder's service.
Remember, do not put yourself in danger to obtain information. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, get to a nearby safe place and then call 911 immediately.
Remember these questions
Where, What, Who, When, Why?
When calling 9-1-1 for assistance, these are some questions the dispatcher will ask you.
WHERE? Where are you? Where is the scene?
WHAT? What happened?
WHO? Who's involved? Is anyone hurt?
WHEN? When did it happen? Is it going on right now?
WHY? Follow-up questions
| People | Weapon | Where did they go? |
|---|---|---|
| How many people involved? Who is involved? What do they look like? What are they wearing? What are they carrying? | Any object can be a weapon if it is used in a threateningly manner, or causes death or serious bodily injury. Name the specific weapon? Who has the weapon? Where is the weapon? | Point of reference Directional guide |
Do stay on the line.
Your call will be answered as soon as possible.
Do have the information available.
Write it down if necessary.
Do let the dispatcher ask the questions.
The dispatcher will determine how to best help you.
Do stay on the line as long as needed.
The dispatcher may need to update information.
Don't hesitate to call 911!