911 System
The Proper Use of the 911 System
The 911 emergency telephone system is in place to assist citizens with POLICE, MEDICAL or FIRE emergencies. Please realize that non-emergency calls to the 911 system can create delays in handling other very serious emergencies that require immediate attention. The following are guidelines for the proper use of the 911 system for FIRE and MEDICAL emergencies in Pennfield.
DO NOT CALL 911 FOR NON-EMERGENCIES!!!
Examples of NON-EMERGENCY situations are:
- Minor illness or injury not requiring immediate help.
- Flu/common cold.
- Chronic (ongoing) aches and pain.
- Minor cuts.
- Broken fingers or toes.
- Emotional upsets.
- Routine Transportation to medical offices, clinics, and hospitals. For non-emergency transportation, use taxi cabs or call a private ambulance listed under AMBULANCE in your local telephone directory.
- Any other NON LIFE-THREATENING illness or injury.
Remember, these are general guidelines. If there is any doubt call 911 immediately!
CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY for any of the following:
For ANY kind of uncontrolled FIRE (not camp fires).
For a LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY such as:
- Breathing difficulty/shortness or breath/breathing has stopped
- Choking (can’t talk or breathe)
- Constant chest pain in adults (lasting longer than two minutes)
- Uncontrollable bleeding/large blood loss
- Drowning
- Electrocution
- Drug overdose/poisoning
- Gunshot wounds, stabbings
- Vomiting blood
- Sudden fainting/unconsciousness
- Convulsions/seizures (uncontrolled jerking movements)
- Sever allergic reaction (difficulty breathing/unresponsive)
- Major burns (white or charred skin: blisters and redness over large area)
- Someone who will not wake up, even when you shake them
SEVERE injuries from:
- Traffic accidents
- Head injury
- Significant falls
- Physical entrapment (i.e. car accident with a victim trapped in the vehicle)