When to Call 911

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 12-18. It acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the dispatchers and operators who have helped save thousands of lives since 911 began in 1968. Telecommunicators relay information to first responders, and give vital emergency instructions to callers. I hope you never have to call 911, but if you do, you should know when to do so, and what to expect when you call. That way you can help telecommunicators get you the help you need. 

Simply put, you should call 911 when there is an emergency that requires law enforcement, the fire department, or an ambulance. But what exactly constitutes an emergency? Some situations are obvious. It may be a medical emergency, such as when someone is bleeding severely, becomes unconscious, is hit by a vehicle, or is overdosing. Or could be a law enforcement emergency, such as when someone is fighting or breaking into your car. Always call 911 for a fire, even if you think you can put it out yourself. 

Other situations may be more ambiguous. For some medical issues, only you will know if it is a true emergency, and the same symptoms with different variables call for different response levels. Dizziness could be a medical emergency for one person, but another person might know they always get dizzy if they stand up too fast, so they don’t need to be checked out. A sudden severe headache might not be an emergency if you’re prone to migraines, but for someone else it could be a serious warning sign and need a call to 911. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and call.

For law enforcement, always call for a crime or potential crime in progress. If someone is trespassing in your backyard now, call 911. If you look at video footage from last night and notice someone was in your backyard hours ago, call our non-emergency number, 727-582-6200. If people are physically fighting, call 911, but you can also call if they’re verbally arguing and you think it might escalate. If you’re not sure if it is a crime but think something is suspicious or might become a crime, call 911. 

When you call, the operator will have a lot of questions for you. Before you say anything else, tell them where you are. Even if you get disconnected or can no longer speak, they can still get someone to your location. After that calmly answer the 911 operator’s questions. They may be able to give you specific instructions – they can talk you through CPR and other first aid, or may tell you what to do when law enforcement arrives. If your call requires the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers join the process to relay vital, real-time information to deputies. 

Remember, just because you call 911, it doesn’t mean someone is getting arrested or taking a ride in an ambulance. Don’t be afraid to call if it seems like an emergency to you. Our skilled public safety telecommunicators will make sure to send the help you need, and law enforcement and other first responders can decide what needs to be done.