9-1-1 Tips

During a life-threatening emergency, every second counts. Don’t hesitate — contact 9-1-1 immediately for assistance from police, fire or medical responders.

• Move to a safe location first. If there’s a fire, get out of the building first before contacting 9-1-1.
• Stay calm. Speak clearly and answer all questions the 9-1-1 telecommunicator asks about your emergency.
• Know the location of the emergency. Provide the address of the emergency if possible or use nearby streets or landmarks to describe the location of your emergency.
• Stay on the line. Do NOT hang up until the 9-1-1 telecommunicator says it’s okay.
• Call if you can, text if you can’t. Voice calls to 9-1-1 are the fastest way to contact 9-1-1, but Text-to-9-1-1 is available if it’s too dangerous to speak or if you have hearing or speech impairment.

• Secure your Phone. Keep your wireless phone securely stored when you are not using it to prevent you from pressing buttons accidentally. Avoid storing your wireless phone in pockets or bags where buttons may be pressed accidentally. 
• Lock Your Phone. Always activate the lock on your wireless phone keypad and use screen lock features to prevent accidental dialing. 
• Know Your Phone. Review your emergency settings on your wireless phone to ensure it’s not too easy to contact 9-1-1 by mistake. The “SOS” feature on your phone is a valuable tool in a life-threatening emergency. To learn more about the “SOS” feature on your specific device, follow this link:
  • iPhone: Emergency SOS settings for iPhone
  • Android: Set up Emergency SOS on an Android 
• Phone with “No Service.” Even if your wireless phone has no service, you can still call 9-1-1. Exercise caution when allowing children to use these phones, as they may accidentally dial emergency services. Consider enabling child lock or restricting access to emergency features while they use your device.
• Know Your Smart Device. If you wear a smartwatch or other wearable, be cautious when touching the screen or buttons as some smart device features may automatically contact emergency services. To learn more about opt-in features on your specific device, follow this link:
  • iPhone: Make an emergency call or text on iPhone or Apple Watch
  • Android: Get help during an emergency with your Android phone
  • Google Pixel Watch: Loss of Pulse Detection on the Google Pixel Watch 3

Dialing 9-1-1 directly from a telephone or mobile device is the fastest and most reliable way to reach the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center servicing the area you are calling from.

We DO NOT recommend the use of applications or other solutions to contact 9-1-1. However, anyone choosing to use another method should first understand the device or application’s requirements, limitations, and emergency-calling capabilities. 

Alexa

• Alexa does NOT support direct calls to emergency service numbers such as 9-1-1, and Alexa devices require an active internet connection. 

• Customers who subscribe to “Alexa Emergency Assist” may be connected to a dedicated Urgent Response Agent; however, these agents are NOT 9-1-1 telecommunicators assigned to the caller’s local jurisdiction (Police Department, Fire Department, or Emergency Medical Services). (FAQ about Urgent Response)

Siri

• If Siri is enabled within the device settings, you can use Siri on your Apple devices to contact 9-1-1. Just say “Hey Siri, call 911.” (Learn more about safety features on your Apple device)

Google Assistant

• If Google Assistance is enabled with the device settings, you can use Google Assistant on Android devices to contact 9-1-1. Just say “Hey Google, call 911”. (Learn more about using Google Assistant to make calls on your mobile device) 

Google Nest or Home

• You CANNOT call 9-1-1 unless you have an active Google Home Premium subscription with Enhanced 911 (E911) calling in the US.

• The Google Home Premium subscription service requires advance setup and proper configuration and should NOT be considered a substitute for directly dialing 9-1-1. (Learn more about Google Home Premium subscription)