This is based on information from The Collegeville PA VFD and Anne Arundel County MD FD

When you need the immediate response of Fire, Police or Ambulance
9-1-1 is a toll-free, easy to remember emergency telephone number which anyone in
Maryland and most other states may use to summon the IMMEDIATE RESPONSE of
POLICE, FIRE, or AMBULANCE (EMS) services.

When you dial 9-1-1 a trained telecommunicator will ask you about your emergency. The
9-1-1 telecommunicator will tell you to stay on the phone while he or she gathers important
information.

DO NOT HANG UP UNTIL THE 9-1-1 TELECOMMUNICATOR INSTRUCTS
YOU TO DO SO.

The vital pieces of information you will be asked to verify are:

Your name
Phone number
Address of the emergency
Municipality in which the emergency is occuring

For those residents who reside in apartment complexes and developments:

The complex or apartment name
Building name or number
Apartment or unit number

This information should be posted by a phone for use by small children,
a babysitter, or visitors to your home.

Please remain on the line and cooperate with the telecommunicator. Speak
clearly and at all times remain as calm as possible.

REMEMBER: DO NOT HANG UP UNTIL THE TELECOMMUNICATOR
INSTRUCTS YOU TO DO SO.


REMEMBER

Call 9-1-1 only when you need the immediate response of an emergency service.
If you need to contact your local emergency service for non-emergency information,
please use the administrative or non-emergency telephone number which is listed
in your local telephone directory.


Other FAQ's about 9-1-1

When should I use 9-1-1?

You should use 911 when you need the IMMEDIATE RESPONSE of an emergency service.

When I call 9-1-1 for help who responds?

The 9-1-1 telecommunicator will make sure your call is dispatched to the appropriate public
safety agency so that you will get the police, ambulance, or fire department you need
from the department in your area.

Can I call 9-1-1 from my car phone?

Yes, you would dial exactly like you would on a normal phone.

Will I still be able to call my local fire and police departments at thier regular 7-digit numbers?

Yes, the non-emergency numbers can be found in your local telephone directory.

What do I do if I can't get through to 9-1-1?

There are so many special lines to 9-1-1 that it would be highly unlikely for you to get a busy
signal. If that should happen simply dial 9-1-1 again.

Can I call 9-1-1 from a phone that is part of a centrex or PBX system?

Yes, however, because these business systems include a large number of phones and frequently
allow the relocation of phones and numbers from place to place, the 9-1-1 computers
may not be able to determine the exact location from which a call is being placed.

Telecommunicators at the 9-1-1 answering points will be instructed to make sure they
get all the necessary location information from callers using these kinds of systems.