Answer Our Questions

All you have to do is answer our questions. Stay on the phone and answer the Communication Officer’s questions as calmly as you can.

You will be asked the following:

• The location of the problem. If you do not know the address, be prepared to help us locate an address.
• The type of problem
• Tell us in plain language what is happening/what is the problem
• Details about the problem

Communications Officer

The Communications Officer is trained to get information while the emergency units are responding - do not think that answering the questions will delay a response. Stay on the line and do not hang up until the Communications Officer tells you to hang up.  Sometimes the Communications Officer will keep you on the line until emergency units have arrived to get additional information or timely updates.

Communications Officers have been trained to ask questions that will prioritize the incident, locate it, and dispatch appropriate emergency response. Remain calm and speak clearly. If you are not in a position to give full answers to the Communications Officer, stay on the phone and the Communications Officer will ask you questions that require only a “yes” or “no” response.

Instructions

Follow the Communications Officers instructions. Communications Officers have been trained and certified in emergency medical dispatch, law enforcement dispatch and fire dispatch. Their training has provided them with the tools to assist you until emergency service personnel can get to the scene.

Listen carefully and follow the Communications Officer’s instructions.