
Ever wonder what happens when you call 911? Or who and how the fire trucks are sent? Or who turns the tornado sirens on?
Or have you ever wondered how we know who you are or where you are calling from, when your not able to tell us anything?
Answer: As soon as you dial 911 our system starts recording everything said and dispatchers answer the phone and your phone number along with your name and address will show up on our screens telling us who is calling and where you are calling from, along with a map showing us your location, even if your on a cell phone! We then put your information into our Computer Aided Dispatch Software (CAD) and send the appropriate people to help you. If you are needing medical help we will transfer you to MEMS ambulance service after we get your information.
Answer: Each household or business pays a small monthly fee for 9-1-1 service on each telephone line that appears on their phone bill. There is no per-call charge for calling 9-1-1. However, EMS/ambulances dispatched through 9-1-1 may charge for taking someone to the hospital; this is a separate ambulance charge, not a 9-1-1 charge.
Answer: Nine-one-one is only to be used in emergency situations. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 9-1-1. It's better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.
If you call 9-1-1 by mistake, do not hang up. Tell the call taker what happened so they know there really isn't an emergency.
First, take heed of the following adage:
The design of the Enhanced 911 system in Conway is based upon the premise that every telephone customer has a valid street address, which includes a house number and a street name. If your street sign is missing, contact your local government to have it replaced.
Make sure your house number is clearly visible to a vehicle passing by on your street. Four-inch numbers (not spelled out) are preferred. Since emergency responders use one address to find another, you will not only be helping yourself, you will be helping your neighbors.
Educate small children about what to do in an emergency. Even very young children can use Enhanced 911 to get help. As long as the child can dial 911, the system will display the address that the child is calling from for the dispatcher to send help.
Answer: When necessary, a 9-1-1 call taker can add an interpreter from an outside service to the line. A non-English speaking caller may hear a short conversation in English and some clicking sounds as the interpreter is added to the line.
Answer: Communications centers that answer 9-1-1 calls have special text telephones for responding to 9-1-1 calls from Deaf or hearing/speech impaired callers.
If a Deaf or hearing/speech impaired caller doesn't have a TTY/TDD, the caller should call 9-1-1 and don't hang up. Not hanging up leaves the line open. With most 9-1-1 calls, the caller's address is displayed on the call taker's screen and help will be sent.
All Calls Annually: |
An estimated 200 million calls to 9-1-1 in the U.S. each year. |
Population Covered: |
99% (at least basic 9-1-1) |
Geographic U.S. Covered: |
96% (at least basic 9-1-1) |
Basic 9-1-1: |
Basic 9-1-1 means that when the three-digit number is dialed, a call taker/dispatcher in the local public safety answering point (PSAP), or 9-1-1 call center, answers the call. The emergency and its location are communicated by voice (or TTY) between the caller and the call taker. |
Enhanced 9-1-1: |
In areas serviced by enhanced 9-1-1, the local 9-1-1 center has equipment and database information that display the caller's phone number and address to the call taker. The term "enhanced 9-1-1" is not synonymous with wireless 9-1-1. (This is your Conway 911 center) |
Wireless Phase I: |
When Phase I has been implemented, the call taker automatically receives the wireless call-back number. This is important in the event the wireless phone call is dropped, and may even allow PSAP employees to work with the wireless company to identify the wireless subscriber. Phase I also delivers the location of the cell tower handling the call. |
Wireless Phase II: |
Phase II allows call takers to receive both the caller's wireless phone number and their location information. |
Wireless 9-1-1 Progress: |
The United States has 6,121 primary and secondary PSAPs. Based on NENA’s preliminary assessment of the most recent FCC quarterly filings: 7% have either basic 9-1-1 or no 9-1-1 93% have enhanced 9-1-1 for wireline callers 37% have some Phase I 10% have some Phase II |
Total 911 calls answered in 2006 |
42,896 |
Average 911 calls answered monthly |
3,575 |
Average 911 calls answered daily |
118 |
Average non-emergency calls answered |
On average double the amounts above |
Conway 911 or E-911? |
Conway provides Enhanced 911 service |
Conway wireless 911? |
Conway provides both Phase 1 and Phase 2, this varies depending on the cellular site and provider. |