Dialing 911 for emergency help is so commonplace in Los Angeles that most people assume that it is available everywhere. 911 service is still unavailable in many parts of the U.S. however. In addition, what happens when 911 is dialed varies dramatically, depending on the jurisdiction handling the call.
In the City of Los Angeles, we have enhanced 911 service which offers many features unavailable in other areas. Enhanced 911 service automatically provides the emergency dispatchers with the telephone number of the caller, the address, the closest cross streets and map coordinates. Incoming calls are routed directly to the Police Department's dispatch center located underground at City Hall East. Calls for fire and medical emergencies are quickly transferred next door to the Fire Department's dispatch center. The closest emergency resources are selected with the assistance of a computer and then dispatched.
The quality of our emergency service is greatly enhanced by the superior training and experience of Fire Department dispatchers in L.A. City. All emergency calls are answered by LAFD firefighters and paramedics who have years of field experience in pre hospital emergency care. Numerous lives are saved each year by the guidance and instruction given over the phone by dispatchers prior to the arrival of fire and ambulance resources. This is in sharp contrast to many jurisdictions where 911 calls are answered by telephone operators, or dispatchers without field experience in emergency medicine. Callers frequently require pre arrival instructions in CPR, emergency childbirth, clearing airway obstructions, rescue breathing and hemorrhage control. Expert guidance during the first critical minutes of an emergency can mean the difference between life and death.
Calls to 911 should only be used when a true emergency exists. Non emergency calls to 911 can create delays in handling other very serious emergencies that require immediate assistance. When you do call, be ready with the following information:
Remain calm and give direct answers to the questions asked. Speak slowly and clearly. You will be asked additional questions so the dispatcher can send the right type of help.
If you have called for an ambulance, do not be surprised if a fire engine arrives first. On serious medical calls a fire engine is dispatched along with the ambulance. All L.A. City firefighters are trained emergency medical technicians. More than 70% of their call load is emergency medicine and they have lots of experience. You will be in good hands.
If you call 911 from a cellular phone in the L.A. area, the call will be routed through the California Highway Patrol. The caller's location will not be identified automatically. It is extremely important to give clear and accurate instructions to the location of the emergency. Freeway interchanges are especially difficult for emergency responders who haven't been given accurate locations. A good example is the I-5 and I-14 interchange in North Los Angeles. There are 23 separate routes of travel. If a wrong location is given, 10 - 20 minutes may be required to travel to the next off ramp and respond back to the emergency along the correct route.
Understanding what happens when a 911 call is placed will help the system run more efficiently and will bring you the emergency help you need in the shortest possible time. Additional information on when to call 911 is also available on this web site.
Copyrighted 1997: Los Angeles City Fire Department
Photo courtesy of Gene Blevens Action News (818) 787-7572
