America’s 911 system handles nearly 240 million calls per year, and the growing number of dispatch disasters can be a matter of life or death.

If you are in a life-threatening situation, there are several things you can do to assist emergency response personnel. The following is the 911 protocol:

• Stay calm 
• Know your location 
• Answer the operator’s questions 
• Do not hang up 
• Disclose what the threats are ” if there are weapons, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Below are examples of emergency situations that would warrant a call to 911:

• Immediate threat to person or property
• Serious injury or medical problem 
• Fight in progress
• Break in 
• Person screaming for help