What Does The 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatcher Ask, And Why?
WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY?
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Explain briefly what the situation is and what sort of emergency service you need.
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This question allows the 9-1-1 Dispatcher to determine which questions need to be asked.. The information you provide will allow the ECO to triage your emergency for the appropriate resources. Should your call be transferred to police (RCMP), ambulance or another agency, please ensure you remain on the line. The ECO will provide an introduction and provide pertinent information before you speak with them.
ASSISTANCE BASED QUESTIONS
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There will be additional questions concerning your emergency,
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If requesting an ambulance, you will be asked for which town or city and the phone number you are calling from. You will then be transferred to EMS dispatch.
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If requesting police, you will be asked (if not obvious) if it is an emergency happening now. If the answer is yes, you will be asked the location of the emergency, your name, phone number and what is happening. You will then be transferred to RCMP dispatch. If your call is not an emergency, you will be transferred to the RCMP non-emergency complaint line.
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If requesting the fire department, you will be asked the location of the emergency, your phone number and name. You will be asked to tell the Dispatcher exactly what happened. Based on this information, you will be asked a series of questions. Answer the questions as best you can. These questions DO NOT DELAY THE ARRIVAL OF EMERGENCY SERVICES. This information tells the Dispatcher who is required at your emergency as well as information the responders need, for example special equipment or other resources. This information is also critical for the responders' safety as well as yours. If you don't know the answer to a question, it's okay to say you don't know.
WHAT IS YOUR LOCATION AND PHONE NUMBER?
You will immediately be asked the location of the emergency and your phone number in case you are disconnected. Having correct information is important. If you aren't sure of your location, the 9-1-1 Dispatcher will ask you questions to confirm your location.
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The most important piece of information when someone calls 9-1-1 is the address of the emergency. Addresses come in many forms including a proper street address, your rural “blue” sign address or your LLD. If you don't know the address of the emergency, or if it is not at a physical address, eg. on the highway or in a field, the Dispatcher may ask for the closest intersection or road. It is always a good idea to watch road signs when travelling and to know your general location.
If calling from a landline, the Dispatcher will see your location when you call in. If calling from a cell phone, the location the Dispatcher sees will depend on which cell tower your phone hits. It could be very close, but could also be a great distance away.
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