IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 9-1-1

RESIDENTS FREQUENTLY CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS NON-EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER TO REQUEST A RESPONSE TO A VARIETY OF EMERGENCY INCIDENTS INCLUDING EMS CALLS, FIRE RELATED INCIDENTS, AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THAT DURING NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITIES OUR PERSONNEL MAY BE RESPONDING TO MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR SERVICE AND WILL NOT BE PRESENT AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  IF THIS IS THE CASE ANY PHONE CALL TO OUR NON-EMERGENCY LINE WILL GO UNANSWERED. 

WHEN YOU CALL 911, THE CALL IS TRACED THROUGH THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE EXACT LOCATION IT IS ATTACHED TO.  TO ENSURE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND PROMPT RESPONSE TO EMERGENCIES REQUIRING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICES RESIDENTS SHOULD CALL 911.  CALLING 911 WILL ENSURE THAT YOUR PHONE CALL IS ANSWERED PROMPTLY BY HIGHLY QUALIFIED DISPATCH PERSONNEL AT THE CENTER LOCATED IN BULLHEAD CITY WHO THEN IMMEDIATELY RELAYS THE INFORMATION TO GOLDEN SHORES FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DISPATCHING THE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL TO THE INCIDENT.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY:  IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE BEFORE YOU CALL 911.  IF YOUR HOME IS ON FIRE, FOR INSTANCE, LEAVE THE HOUSE BEFORE CALLING 911.  YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL FROM SOMEONE ELSE’S HOUSE OR PHONE.  OTHER REASONS TO CALL 911 ARE PERSONAL SAFETY AT RISK, CRASH INJURIES, AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

SPEAK SLOWLY AND CLEARLY WHEN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING. 

IF YOU DO HAVE TO CALL 911 IN AN EMERGENCY, BE SURE TO STAY ON THE PHONE.  DO NOT HANG UP UNTIL THE 911 OPERATOR TELLS YOU TO DO SO.  THAT WAY, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE OPERATOR HAS ALL THE INFORMATION TO GET HELP TO YOU FAST!

WHEN USING A CELL PHONE THE NUMBER IS NOT ATTACHED TO ANY ONE LOCATION.  EVEN THOUGH YOUR CELL PHONE CAN TELL GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED, IT CAN NOT TELL 911 OPERATORS THE SAME THING.  WHEN YOU USE A CELL PHONE TO CALL 911 THAT CALL CONNECTS TO A CELL TOWER.  THE DISPATCHER RECEIVES THE LOCATION OF THE CELL TOWER, NOT THE LOCATION OF THE CELL PHONE.  THIS COULD BE A DRASTIC DIFFERENCE IN AREA.  THE CELL TOWER MAY NOT EVEN BE IN THE SAME COUNTY YOU ARE MAKING THE CALL FROM AND THAT CAN CAUSE A DELAY IN EMERGENCY SERVICES RESPONSE TIME. 

IN GOLDEN SHORES, IF YOU CALL 911 FROM A LANDLINE, IT CONNECTS YOU TO THE DISPATCH CENTER IN BULLHEAD CITY WHO WILL KNOW YOUR LOCATION IMMEDIATELY.  IF YOU CALL 911 FROM A CELL PHONE IN GOLDEN SHORES, YOU WILL NEED TO TELL THEM YOUR LOCATION AND THAT YOU REQUEST TO SPEAK WITH BULLHEAD CITY dispatch.  THE DIRECT LINE IS 928-763-1999.  IF PROPER INFORMATION IS NOT PROVIDED, IT WILL DELAY THE DISPATCHER WHO WILL BE LOOKING FOR A STREET IN THE WRONG AREA.  ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT IF YOU CALL 911 FROM A CELL PHONE, THE CALL WILL CONNECT YOU TO THE CLOSEST CELL TOWER AND THE CALL CENTER ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TOWER WILL ASSIST YOU.

IN ADDITION SOME RESIDENTS MAY USE INTERCONNECTED VOIP PROVIDERS THAT ALLOW YOU TO MAKE AND RECEIVE CALLS TO AND FROM REGULAR PHONE NUMBERS, USUALLY USING AN INTERNET CONNECTION.  BEFORE AN INTERCONNECTED VOIP SERVICE PROVIDER MAY ACTIVATE A NEW CUSTOMER’S SERVICE, THE PROVIDER MUST OBTAIN FROM THE CUSTOMER THE PHYSICAL LOCATION WHERE THE SERVICE WILL FIRST BE USED SO THAT EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL WILL BE ABLE TO LOCATE VOIP CALLERS WHO DIAL 911.  PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CARRIER TO UNDERSTAND LIMITATIONS OF THE 911 SERVICE PROVIDED AND TO CONFIRM THAT YOUR INFORMATION IS ACCURATE.

WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE 911 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND HOW TO BEST TO USE 911 DURING A CRISIS OR DISASTER.