Emergency Help: Call 911
In the United States, you can call 911 on any telephone to get emergency help. Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center provides guidelines on when to call, or not call, 911.
When to Call 911
Call 911 to:
- Report a fire
- Report a crime in progress
- Call an ambulance for emergency medical help
- Report suspicious activities, such as screams, calls for help, or gunshots
What Happens When I Call 911?
- Calls to 911 are usually answered within 12 seconds. You may be put on hold. Do not hang up! When the operator answers, there will be silence on the phone for several seconds. Do not hang up. Wait for the operator to speak.
- If you do not speak English, tell the operator what language you speak. An interpreter should come on the line.
- The 911 operator will ask you questions to find out what and where the emergency is. Keep calm and answer these questions. Try to stay on the phone with the operator until you answer all questions.
When Not to Call 911
Call 911 for serious, life-threatening emergencies only. Calling 911 for the wrong reason may keep someone else from getting the help they need. Do not call 911 to:
- Ask for directions
- Ask for information about public services
- Find out if someone is in jail
- Report situations that are not emergencies
- Ask for information about animal control
- Talk to a police officer about something that is not an emergency
If you have a question for the police, call the non-emergency number for the police department listed in the blue pages of your phone book.
