Back in the day, you may remember when landlines were all the rage, children memorized two phone numbers: they knew their home telephone number and the emergency line, 9-1-1. 

Today, it’s hard to find a landline in a home. Instead, children memorize their parents’ cell numbers, but little has changed regarding 9-1-1 other than the type of device used to make the emergency call. Very little thought goes into calling 9-1-1, other than it’s the number you dial when there’s an emergency. 

However, did you know there are important guidelines for calling 9-1-1? We’ll take a look at these guidelines and answer your questions about calling 9-1-1.

FAQs About Calling 9-1-1

What Should You Expect When You Call 9-1-1?

While protocols can vary a little from one emergency call center to another, most follow the same basic guidelines. 

When you call 9-1-1, an operator answers and yes, all call center employees are trained to handle all types of emergencies and crises. This means that regardless of the type of emergency, the operator is ready to handle it.

You should expect to provide the following information:

• The location of the emergency, typically a street or building address
• The phone number you’re calling from. Most of the time, the phone number pops up on the operator’s computer screen but you should still be ready to provide yours.
• A brief description of the emergency. This can include details on the type and severity of the injuries. If it’s a fire, a description of the blaze. For example, is the entire house engulfed in flames, or is only the backyard getting a little singed? If you’re reporting a crime. The operator may ask if you can provide a physical description of the individual suspected of committing the crime.

The 9-1-1 operator may also give you instructions. For example, how to perform CPR on an individual who’s suffering a heart attack. Be ready to follow their instructions and don’t hang up until the operator lets you know it’s okay to do so.

Can You Get In Trouble For Accidentally Dialing 9-1-1?

Have you ever heard the term “butt dial”? The term isn’t very flattering and rarely accurate, but it does describe a common occurrence with cell phones. You accidentally press a button on your cell phone, often without realizing it, and suddenly there’s a voice inquiring about the nature of your emergency. Yes, you just accidentally dialed the emergency number.

Your first instinct may be to quickly hang up and pretend the phone call never happened. However, this is a mistake. Remember how most 9-1-1 centers automatically display the caller’s phone number? Chances are, the 9-1-1 operator will call you back if you hang up before admitting your mistake. The operator may even believe you’re in distress and unable to respond. Now, there’s emergency personnel knocking on your front door.

Instead of hanging up, let the operator know you dialed 9-1-1 by mistake. If it’s your first call to 9-1-1 by mistake, there are rarely any penalties. The worst is usually a small extra charge on your cell phone bill.

Do You Need to Pay a Fee to Dial 9-1-1?

All states charge a nominal fee to help support 9-1-1 call centers. The fees are collected by the telecommunications service providers, meaning the charge shows up on your cell phone bill.

Before you start scrolling through your cell phone bills searching for a hefty fee, most states charge less than $2 to help support its emergency call centers. 

Since your two dollars or less monthly fee isn’t enough to support an emergency call center, you may wonder where the remaining funds are coming from. A portion of your taxes also goes towards supporting 9-1-1 centers throughout your state.

Can You Text an Emergency to 9-1-1?

The answer to this question depends on your state and where you live. Most 9-1-1 call centers are equipped to handle text messages reporting an emergency or a request for rescue services. If you receive a bounce-back message after texting 9-1-1, the function isn’t yet available. In this instance, you’ll need to call the operator instead of texting.

What about services for the deaf and hard of hearing? The National Association of the Deaf has a complete list of 9-1-1 centers listed by state with the capabilities of accepting messages via a telecommunication device or teletypewriter. If the center accepts text messages, this is another way individuals with partial or full hearing loss can communicate with a 9-1-1 operator.

What Happens If I Have a Cell Phone Without a Service Plan?

If you have a wireless phone and a charged battery, meaning the device turns on, you can dial 9-1-1 even if you don’t have a service plan. This helps ensure everyone can report an emergency or request help, regardless of their financial situation.

Something to note is if you’re calling 9-1-1 from a non-network connected device, the phone number and your location won’t show up on the operator’s scene. This is information you need to supply for emergency personnel to locate you or the reported emergency.

There can be a downside to the ability to dial 9-1-1 from a non-connected cell phone. Parents often give younger children old phones to play with and it’s not uncommon for little ones to accidentally call the emergency number. A good tip for parents is to remove the battery before giving the phone away as a toy.

Should You Schedule a 9-1-1 Test Call?

You shouldn’t need to make a test call to 9-1-1 but if you’re worried you may not be able to reach an operator during an emergency, it can help set your mind at ease.

However, a test call doesn’t mean just randomly calling 9-1-1 to hear an operator say hello and inquire about the nature of your emergency. Doing this only ties up valuable resources someone else may need. Instead, you can call the center’s non-emergency number and schedule a test call.

If you’re not sure what your non-emergency number is, a quick online search generally brings up the necessary information. Just search for the non-emergency number for your area. Hopefully, these answers help with any questions you may have about calling 9-1-1.