# Ask the 911 dispatcher **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-911-dispatcher/232491 "2004-03-04T12:40:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-911-dispatcher/232491/41 "2004-03-09T23:11:41Z")
> [@qts](#): > > In the U.K. **all** phones can dial 999, regardless of lack of payment. Also true in the US. All cell phones (with enough battery power) will dial 911. It’s a good thing to donate your old cell phones to your local Battered Women’s Shelter. My very first call on my very first cell phone was to 911. I was driving home after getting the phone and saw a van hit a guy on a bicycle. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-911-dispatcher/232491/42 "2004-03-10T02:34:03Z")
I’m glad y’all are enjoying it. > [@](#): > > Are there general rules or tips you would give to people in reporting a real emergency. Any order in which information should be communicated? I realise not all jurisdictions have the same process. Well, most people’s first instincts are to blurt everything out as fast as possible. Unfortunately, we can’t type that fast, so we end up making them repeat. I like something along the lines of, “My name is X, I need an ambulance/police officer/fire truck at 123 Elm, my dad’s having a heart attack/stabbing my mom/on fire.” Immediately we have enough information to get units enroute while an operator stays on the line and gets details. In a panic situation, however, most people can’t think too calmly; but a good operator will know the right questions to ask to get a picture of the situation. > [@](#): > > Scenario: call to 911 with hangup. When 911 (you, in this case) calls back, the person answers the following: Oh, 911, sorry, No, nothing wrong going on, I was just trying to call my aunt in Stockholm. She has a strange medical syndrome… No need to send any police or anything… > > Your caller is speaking rather fast, and sound a little out of breath, but otherwise pretty normal… > > What do you do? Say ok, and think no more of it, or send someone to check it out, or do you do something else. I realise this will vary from operator to operator… I don’t know if I would catch the Stockholm reference (subtlety at 4 in the morning tends to whoosh right over me), but based on the tone of voice and respiration I would definitely think something was wrong. If we have a caller who seems to be unable to speak freely, we go to yes or no questions, along the lines of, “Is there someone there with you?” “Do you know this person?” “Do you need an officer?” “Is this person armed?” “Gun?” “Knife?” Meanwhile we’ve already got an officer enroute, and we’re relaying any information we’re able to gather. If nothing else, if you’re in a situation where you’re unable to talk, lay the phone down somewhere where we can hear what’s going on in the room. Just make sure the TV isn’t on and tuned to an old Burt Reynolds movie (yes, that’s happened). ---
**Author:** ![trupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trupa)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-911-dispatcher/232491/43 "2004-03-10T22:41:20Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > I’m glad y’all are enjoying it. > > If nothing else, if you’re in a situation where you’re unable to talk, lay the phone down somewhere where we can hear what’s going on in the room. Just make sure the TV isn’t on and tuned to an old Burt Reynolds movie (yes, that’s happened). Or an old A-team episode. That would be enough to get the tac unit and the local national guard dispatched 😉 or a Friday 13th movie… Thanks for your answers… ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-911-dispatcher/232491/44 "2004-03-10T23:43:33Z")
For my Grandmother’s 75th birthday we threw her a surprise party. (not a good idea in retrospect) 🙂 She came in and was all shocked and happy. Someone said, jokingly… uh oh, we gave her a heart attack! My cousin was about four at the time and he dutifully called 911 and said that his grandma was hurt and they needed to come quick. The dispatcher was very sweet, sent two really cool cops out and told him never to be afraid to call 911 when he really believed something was wrong, but that he should check first if there were adults around. I’ve only had to call once, luckily, for a suicide attempt. (everything turned out fine). You do a wonderful job, **Marlitharn** and in my home state! Kudos to you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-911-dispatcher/232491.md?page=2)