What is 9-1-1?
9-1-1 is an emergency telephone number that makes it faster and easier to reach emergency services.
What is an emergency?
An emergency is any situation where the safety of people or property is at risk and urgent assistance is required, such as a crime in progress, a fire, or a medical crisis.
How do you use 9-1-1?
- If you're at home dial 9-1-1. Do not add 9-1-1 on your speed dial.
- If you're in a business or other location, you may need to dial an outside line before dialing 9-1-1.
- If you're at a pay phone, dial 9-1-1. No coin required.
- With 9-1-1 service the address you are calling from will automatically be displayed to the emergency 9-1-1 call taker. Please note this does not apply to cellular phones.
- If you're using a cellular phone, give the exact location of the emergency including the City or Town, highway, road or line number, nearest crossroad and address.
- For Telephone Device for the Deaf (T.D.D. /T.T.Y.) press the space bar intermittently after calling until you receive a response.
- The 9-1-1 call taker will ask you if you need police, fire or ambulance. Tell them the emergency service you require and they will transfer you to that service.
- If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired, Text with 911 is available in Perth County.
Answering questions the emergency service will ask you
- Remain calm and speak clearly.
- Listen and answer the 9-1-1 operator's questions.
- Be prepared to stay on the line with the 9-1-1 operator.
- Do not hang up until the 9-1-1 call taker advises you to do so.
Teach your children about 9-1-1
- Teach your children how and when to get help from 9-1-1.
- Teach your children their address and telephone number as soon as they are able to learn.
- Keep your address posted by your phone for visiting guests and/or children.
- Tell your children to answer all of the emergency questions and stay on the phone until they are told to hang up.
- Teach your children about the consequences of making prank 9-1-1 calls.
If you accidentally dial 9-1-1
- Stay on the line until the 9-1-1 operator answers to verify that there is no emergency.
- If you do not stay on the line, the 9-1-1 operator will call you back.
- If the operator does not get an answer, the Police will automatically be sent to your address to verify the situation.