CALLING 9-1-1

     When to Dial 9-1-1 
     What to do When Calling 9-1-1 
     What to do Before Help Arrives 
     9-1-1 Frequently Asked Questions

When to Dial 9-1-1:

Dial 9-1-1 For:

    • Crimes in progress 
    • Life-threatening situations 
    • Fires 
    • Traffic accidents 
    • Injuries requiring emergency medical attention 
    • Hazardous chemical spills 
    • Fire/smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarms that are sounding 
    • Sparking electrical hazards 
    • Smoke in a building 
    • Or any other emergency, if in doubt, call 9-1-1

Do NOT Dial 9-1-1 For:

    • Inquiring about a large fire or other incident (Tune in your local news) 
    • Seeking information about a previous call 
    • For other non-emergency incidents, contact appropriate City Agency.

Do not call 9-1-1 if you do not have a real emergency. Non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 can delay response to true emergencies. However, if you are in doubt if your situation is an emergency, call 9-1-1.

What To Do When Calling 9-1-1?

When you get on the phone with a Granite City 9-1-1 Dispatcher, it is important to remember the following to get help to your emergency as quickly as possible:

    • Remain Calm.
    • Be prepared to give the correct address of your emergency and the phone number from where you are
          calling.  
    • Stay on the phone with the dispatcher. Do not hang up until the dispatcher tells you to hang up. Keep in
          mind that help is being sent simultaneously as the dispatcher takes your information.  
    • If you have a secured area, be sure to let the dispatcher know the fastest way for emergency responders
          to gain access, i.e., gate code, guard, etc.

The dispatcher is going to ask you several questions about the condition of the patient requiring 9-1-1 services. It is best if the person calling 9-1-1 is near the patient in order to answer these questions. The dispatcher may also be giving the caller first-aid or CPR instructions as needed until the rescuers arrive.
Some of the questions the fire/medical dispatcher may ask are:

    • What is the address/location/cross street? 
    • What exactly is burning? 
    • Do you have visible smoke or flame? 
    • How old is the patient? 
    • Is the patient conscious? Is the patient able to talk to you? 
    • What is the patient's medical history?

What To Do Before Help Arrives?

Before 9-1-1 help arrives at your door, there are certain things you can do to ensure a quick and effective response to your emergency.

If you have a fire or smoke in the house:

    • Get out of the house immediately and do not re-enter.

If you have a medical emergency:

    • If someone other than the 9-1-1 caller is available, send them outside to flag arriving emergency units
          to the emergency.
    • If you have a 9-1-1 medical emergency and the patient is taking any prescribed medications, the care 
          of the patient will be expedited if these are gathered and placed in a bag prior to the arrival of
          Paramedics. Paramedics are able to gain knowledge of the patient’s history and condition by looking 
          at medications. They are also required to take the patient's medications to the hospital with them for
          the doctor to examine.   
    • Before the arrival of emergency personnel, please make sure all pets are secured in order to assure
          the safety of the rescuers as well as that of the pet(s).

Before you have an emergency, the Granite City Fire Department recommends you:

    • Make sure your address is properly posted and can be seen at night as well as the day.  
    • Consider painting numbers on the curb in front of your home or business in order to make identifying
          your address easier to rescue responders.

9-1-1 Frequently Asked Questions

Does It Have To Be An Emergency To Call 9-1-1?
When you need a response from an emergency service, dial 9-1-1. This means if you need a police officer, a fire engine, or an ambulance to come to you as soon as possible, you should dial 9-1-1. If your situation is not threatening life or property, dial the general number of the agency you need.

What Should I Do If A Dispatcher Does Not Immediately Answer When I Call?
Cellular Phone
If you receive a busy signal while dialing 9-1-1 on a cellular phone. Hang up and try again.

Standard Phone
Stay on the phone and do not hang up! Calls are received in a time-queue, meaning the dispatcher can visually see which of the waiting unanswered calls have been "ringing" the longest, and will answer it before one that has just begun to "ring". By hanging up and placing a second call, the cycle begins all over again, and your call is delayed. Especially during large incidents, many people may be trying to call to report the same incident. Be patient, and do not hang up. We may need more information, and you may be the person who has it!

Do Dispatchers Provide Medical Care Instructions Before The Arrival Of Emergency Services?
All Granite City Fire/Medical dispatchers are trained and certified as Emergency Medical Dispatchers. This training provides them with the knowledge and skills to talk callers through life saving techniques while emergency equipment is en route. When necessary, dispatchers provide instructions on performing CPR, controlling bleeding, and childbirth, to name a few. But, you must stay on the phone, listen to instructions, and remain calm when dispatchers are providing life saving techniques. Remember, the dispatcher is not only providing instructions to you, but is also ensuring that emergency help is on the way at the same time!

Why Does The Dispatcher Ask Me So Many Questions?
Emergency Fire/Medical Dispatchers follow a predetermined set of questions/protocols. Based on your answers to these questions, we can determine the best level of care/response for you. For example, a heart attack will elicit a different response level than a broken arm, and a trash can fire will elicit a different response than a house fire.