Departments

Emergency Services

Emergency Communications

911 Basics

When to Dial 9-1-1 : Dial 9-1-1 to report a fire, a crime, a medical emergency, or any other situation requiring the immediate response from a fire truck, police car or an ambulance. The Emergency Dispatcher will answer the 9-1-1 line by saying "9-1-1, where is the emergency?"

• Try to stay calm and carefully answer the Emergency Dispatcher's questions. These questions are vital!
• Stay on the line if you can and you are not in any immediate danger.
• If the call is at night, turn on an outside light to help locate your residence and flash it on and off when the emergency personnel approach your location. If no light is available use a flashlight.
• Send someone to the curb or to a safe location near the residence to direct them to the scene if possible. Do not go into the street or roadway to flag down responders. Stay safe!
• Emergency Dispatchers may provide instructions depending on the emergency. Be ready for them.
• For medical emergencies have someone ensure there is a clear path to the patient.
• Lock any pets into an adjacent room prior to emergency responders arriving on scene.

What the Emergency Dispatcher Will Need to Know:

• Location/Address of where the emergency is; including any commonplace name, cross-streets, landmarks and the township or borough. You can help by spelling any street or location names for clarity. There are many similar sounding names used for stores or street names, etc. Also distortion from cell phones or poor cordless telephone connections can make it difficult to understand your information.
• Nature of the problem or emergency (stay on the line if instructed to do so - unless you are in danger).
• Your name and telephone number from where you are calling.

DO NOT Call 9-1-1 For:

• Weather Updates and Road Conditions
• Pets up a tree, barking dogs, excessive noise that is non-urgent in nature.
• Power Outages or Inquiries.
• For non-emergent problems consult the Blue Pages in your local telephone book for your respective Borough or Township or Utility Company.

Are You Ready For An Emergency?

Here is a check list of information that you can use to prepare for emergency situations:

1. Is your house clearly visible from the street?
2. Can your house numbers be clearly seen from the street, at night, and from both directions . Emergency responders can spend a lot of time trying to locate your
residence if the numbers and house are not clearly marked. Do the driving test yourself at
night. Drive by your residence and objectively observe if a stranger could easily locate
your house. In an emergency seconds count!

• Post your address numbers so as to be readily visible from the street/roadway, with reflective digits at least 3 inches high against a contrasting background; visible from both directions.
• Clear away any bushes, branches or other items that might obscure your numbers.
• Place your number near a light if possible.
• Do not use script numbers such as: Six Hundred Twelve ; they are very hard to read in a moving vehicle. Emergency responders will need clearly marked numbers to quickly and accurately locate your residence.
• Stress the importance of properly posted address numbers to your neighbors.
• Make sure you replace any fallen or missing digits. Maintain your address signs.

3. Are the emergency numbers posted on or near your telephones at home and at work? Obtain 9-1-1 stickers and place them near each phone. Also include information regarding your address: exact house number and street name, nearest cross-street/cross-road, and the township or borough you reside in. In an emergency could a
visiting relative assist dispatchers in finding your residence. This information will do this for them.

• If you use a cordless phone teach family members to return it to the proper location so they are available in an emergency.
• Make sure Babysitters and visitors know where your phones are located for emergencies.

4. Do all of your children know how to call for help in an emergency? School age children are especially good at learning proper 9-1-1 dialing and communicating skills. It is each parents responsibility to teach these skills.

• Teach them when to call 9-1-1 and also teach them when not to call 9-1-1.
• If you have a cell phone, teach them how to dial that number after dialing 9-1-1.
• Babysitters should be instructed on emergency procedures and left with basic medical information should assistance be needed.
• Babysitters should be instructed where the parent can be reached at if not available by cell phone.
• Babysitters and children should know the location of every fire extinguisher in the home and where the exits are.

5. Caretakers or Family Members should be aware that elderly family members may not be familiar with the 9-1-1 system and what to expect when making a call. Here are some tips to consider:

• Make sure they know where each phone is in the home.
• Assist them in learning how to dial 9-1-1.
• Teach them about what to expect during a 9-1-1 call. Click here for more details.
• Place clearly marked, in large print, their street address, township or borough, nearest cross street, and telephone number near the phone.
• Place emergency contact information of the primary care or family member near phone as well.

Taking a few moments to review this information and evaluate your safety situation is an important investment of your time. Half of the battle is being prepared for it. When an emergency arises the preparation helps to minimize any further damages that could have occurred otherwise.

Bucks County Department of Emergency Communications is partnered with your local emergency services by being prepared to properly respond to non-emergent public safety situations as well as any emergency situations that may arise. We are committed to maintaining public safety for our customers, the citizens and emergency responders of Bucks County.