ESSEX – Chief Paul Francis and the Essex Police share guidelines and tips to access help in the midst of an emergency during National 9-1-1 Education Month.
According to the National Emergency Number Association, approximately 240 million calls are made to 911 each year in the United States. 9-1-1 Education Month is recognized across the country to conduct outreach and educate community members on 911 resources and practices.
“We understand that if you’re in a situation where you need to call 911 for help, it can be overwhelming, but the most critical thing to remember is that you’ll need to be prepared to share your exact location with the operator so that first responders can find you quickly,” Chief Francis said. “We hope the following tips are useful reminders for residents, and remember, we’re always here if you need help.”
In order to make sure residents can access help in an emergency, Chief Francis is providing the following safety tips from the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA):

Reach 9-1-1 via Phone Or Text
Text to 911 is available across the Commonwealth, and the Essex Police Department reminds residents that 911 through messaging is an alternative to a typical phone call.
To contact emergency services by text message, simply enter 911 in the “To” field of your mobile device and then type your message into the message field. It is the same process that is used for sending a regular text message from your mobile device. It is important to make every effort to begin the text message indicating the town you are in and provide the best location information that you can. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or in a situation where speaking is not possible can benefit from using messaging services to reach emergency services, but if possible a traditional voice call is the best way to reach 911.

Silent call procedure

If you’re unable to communicate your emergency for any reason, you can indicate your need for help by pressing digits on your telephone’s keypad.
If you’re unable to communicate your emergency for any reason, you can indicate your need for help by pressing digits on your telephone’s keypad.
Once you’ve dialed 9-1-1 and an operator has answered, you can press:
1 if you need police;
2 if you need fire services;
3 if you need an ambulance.
If you’re asked a question during the call, you can press:
4 to respond yes;
5 to respond no.

Know Your Location
With wireless calls, 911 operators can locate callers, but more information may be needed in order for emergency services to find exact locations. Be prepared to provide detailed information on your location to assist the 911 operator.

Stay Calm and Don’t Hang Up
Unless instructed to do otherwise, you should stay on the line when calling 9-1-1 in order to provide necessary information to the 911 operator. Even if you accidentally dial 9-1-1, you should stay on the line and inform the operator that there is no emergency and that you dialed accidentally. While on the phone, please answer the telecommunicator’s questions. They are trying to determine whether or not there is an emergency or if someone is in need of assistance.