When do we call 911

Generally speaking, people are aware that they should call in an emergency, but they are less aware of the circumstances in which they should not call The result is that many requests to do not involve true emergencies, which overloads the system with non-emergency calls.

Most people rarely face emergency situations and lack firsthand experience with For example, call if:. You may feel scared or nervous if you have to call That's OK. The emergency operators who answer the phone talk to a lot of people, including adults, who are nervous or worried when they call.

And they are used to talking to kids. Just stay as calm as you can. If you talk too fast, the operator may have trouble understanding what's wrong and what kind of help you need. Do not call for information, minor illness or injury, for your pets, or when your power is out. Whenever a operator has to deal with non-emergency calls, it could cause a life-threatening delay in getting emergency assistance to someone who really needs it.

If you are unsure whether you need to call or not, it is best to call and let the emergency dispatcher determine if you need emergency help. Help me find at CHKD. When To Call