Report an Emergency

Reporting an emergency is one of those things that seems simple enough, until you actually have to do it. That's when nerves take over, and you're lucky if you remember your name! If you find yourself in the midst of an emergency, take a deep breath and remember these instructions.

Steps

  1. Assess the urgency of the situation. Before you report an emergency, make sure the situation is genuinely urgent. Call for emergency services if you believe that a situation is life-threatening or otherwise extremely disruptive.[1] Here are some genuine emergencies you should report:
    • A crime, especially one that is currently in progress.
    • A fire.
    • A life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
    • A car crash or reckless driving.

From a Fire Box

These are commonly found in cities like San Francisco and New York. Although they are losing popularity in other cities, the technology has proven to be critical especially when other more modern technologies fail. These can only be used to contact the fire brigade; emergency phones can be used in other circumstances.

  1. Locate a fire box. These are commonly painted red (for fire) and have a glass cover on them to prevent accidental activation.
  2. Lift or break the cover for the activation station. An emergency box will have a cover protecting it to avoid accidental activation. Lift or break this cover to access the emergency box.
  3. Pull the lever all the way down or press the button. You may hear an audible alarm coming from the box to let you know that you successfully alerted the appropriate authorities.
    • Some of these boxes are emergency telephones, and you need to talk to the operator to get the appropriate help.
    • These boxes work by sending coded messages to nearby fire stations that can be decoded to a particular location.
    • If you get no audible feedback from an emergency box, then assume your message was not transmitted and either try a different box or dial emergency services directly.

From Your Cell Phone

  1. Call emergency services. The emergency number varies by country. In the United States, it's 911 and is 112 across most of Europe.[2]
  2. Report your location. The first thing the emergency dispatcher will ask is where you are located, so the emergency services can get there as quickly as possible. Give the exact street address, if possible; if you're not sure of the exact address, give approximate information.[3]
  3. Give the dispatcher your phone number. This information is also imperative for the dispatcher to have, so s/he is able to call back if necessary.[4]
  4. Describe the nature of the emergency. Speak in a calm, clear voice and tell the dispatcher why you are calling. Give the most important details first, then answer the dispatcher's follow-up questions as best you can.[5]
    • If you're reporting a crime, give a physical description of the person committing the crime.
    • If you're reporting a fire, describe how the fire started and where exactly it is located. If someone has already been injured or is missing, report that as well.
    • If you're reporting a medical emergency, explain how the incident occurred and what symptoms the person currently displays.
  5. Follow the dispatcher's instructions. After the dispatcher has gathered all the necessary information, s/he may tell you to assist the person or people in need. You may receive instructions on how to give emergency medical treatment, such as CPR. Pay careful attention, and do not hang up the phone until you are instructed to do so. Then follow the instructions you were given.
  6. Remain on the line until you are told to hang up. Even if you can't keep the phone to your ear or on loudspeaker, you should still keep your phone on and not terminate the call.[6]
  7. Hang up the call when instructed to do so by the dispatcher. If it's necessary to make another call, then you can do so. Just follow the steps in this article again.

Warnings

  • Never make a false call. You will risk the lives of people who need emergency help. False calls to the Emergency Services are illegal and punishable by fines and/or jail time in some countries.
  • If the emergency is a fire, don't stay in the house. Leave immediately, and call from a neighbor's house.
  • When you make the call, you will be very nervous and find it difficult to even remember the cross streets or your address, even if you're home. Write all this information down on paper before an emergency, and attach it to the wall where the telephone is. This way you can read off the information the dispatcher asks you.
  • Knowing Communicate During an Emergency might be more important if you are worried about how to contact emergency services over a more extended event (like a major earthquake or flood).

References

  1. ↑ [v161279_b01]. 21 February 2020.
  2. ↑ [v161279_b01]. 21 February 2020.
  3. ↑ [v161279_b01]. 21 February 2020.
  4. ↑ [v161279_b01]. 21 February 2020.
  5. ↑ [v161279_b01]. 21 February 2020.
  6. ↑ [v161279_b01]. 21 February 2020.
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