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Emergency Help: Call 911
In the United States, you can call 911 on any
telephone to get emergency help. Call 911 to:
Report a fire.
Report a crime in progress.
Call an ambulance for emergency medical
help.
Report suspicious activities, such as screams, calls for help, or
gunshots.
What Happens When I Call 911?
Calls to
911 are usually answered within 12 seconds. You may be put on hold. Do not hang
up! When the operator answers, there will be silence on the phone for several
seconds. Do not hang up. Wait for the operator to speak.
If you do not
speak English, tell the operator what language you speak. An interpreter should
come on the line.
The 911 operator will ask you questions to find out
what and where the emergency is. Keep calm and answer these questions. Try to
stay on the phone with the operator until you answer all questions.
When Not to Call 911
Call 911 for serious,
life-threatening emergencies only. Calling 911 for the wrong reason may keep
someone else from getting the help they need. Do not call 911 to:
Ask
for directions.
Ask for information about public services.
Find out if someone is in jail.
Report situations that are not
emergencies.
Ask for information about animal control.
Talk to
a police officer about something that is not an emergency.
If you have a
question for the police, call the non-emergency number for the police department
listed in the blue pages of your phone book.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED
STATES
In the U.S., there are federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies that protect the public. In your community, law enforcement
officers are the police or sheriff. Find out the phone number of the police
station nearest you and keep it next to your telephone. Remember that police
officers are there to protect you and your family from harm. Do not be afraid to
report a crime, especially if you are the victim. Some criminals take advantage
of immigrants because they think you will not report the crime to the police. If
you are stopped by a police officer:
Dont be afraid. Be polite and
cooperative.
Tell the officer if you do not speak English.
If
you are in a car, dont get out of the car until the officer tells you
to.
Keep your hands where the officer can see them. Dont reach into
your pockets or into other areas of the
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