When the 911 dispatcher answers your call, he or she will have many important questions to ask you.

What is your emergency?

Tell the dispatcher if

You have a medical emergency
There has been car accident
You are reporting a crime

If you are calling with a medical emergency or a car accident, the dispatcher will ask

Are there any injuries?

If there are, he or she will ask several more questions:

Tell me about the injuries: Is he or she choking? Is there any bleeding? Is the patient unresponsive?
How old is the patient?
Do you know the patient's medical history?
Do you know if the patient has any allergies?

If someone is unconscious or if the condition is life-threatening, the dispatcher may give you basic first aid instructions about how to care for the patient.

If you are calling to report a crime, the dispatcher will ask:

Is the crime currently in progress? (Is it happening now?)
Who is involved in the crime?
Are any weapons being used?
Are there any injuries?

Remember the 911 dispatcher sends help the minute you call. However, he or she has many questions to ask to make sure that the right help is sent to you. Stay calm and answer all of the questions.

The Main Street project is a partnership of the Virginia Department of
Education, James Madison University and the Workforce Improvement Network
For more information about this project, contact Pamela Brown

Last Updated On Wednesday February 19, 2003 8:48 AM