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    Get Prepared

    Know How & When to Contact 911

    Knowing how and when to ask 911 for help is a crucial skill for all ages.

    A person holds a cellphone that reads "911 emergency number" on its screen.

    Overview

    Pennsylvania has a county-based 911 system that answers more than 14.5 million calls every year.

    Operators are trained to help with such emergencies as:

    • Serious medical problems
    • Life-threatening situations
    • Fire
    • Vehicle crashes
    • Crimes in progress

    Texting 911

    All Pennsylvania counties have text-to-911 capabilities.

    Our best advice is to call if you can, but text if you can't. Calling provides background sounds and context clues to aid operators and emergency responders.

    Texting 911 is ideal if:

    • The caller is deaf or hard of hearing
    • The caller has a speech disability
    • It isn't safe to call 911
    • The caller is having a medical emergency and cannot talk on the phone

    Texting 911 is as simple as texting a friend. Type 911 in the to field and explain what is happening in your text. Include your location.

    While all wireless phones can call 911, texting 911 requires a text or data plan.

     

    Important Details

    • A text or data plan is required to place a text to 911.
    • Text-to-911 conversations cannot include more than one person. Do not send your emergency text to anyone other than 911.
    • Do not use abbreviations or emojis.
    • Voice calls are real-time communication. Text-to-911  is not. As with all text messages, texts to 911 may take longer to receive, can get out of order, or might not be received at all.
    • Location information will be limited to the cell tower that your phone is communicating through. A 911 telecommunicator won't automatically know where you are.

     

    Don't Hang Up Just Yet

    Never hang up with a 911 operator until you are told to do so. Even if you call by accident, stay on the line to let the dispatcher know what happened. It happens, and dispatchers know how to handle it.

    For Kids

    Here are some questions you can ask kids to gauge their knowledge of 911:

    Q: If you call 911, what will you be asked?
    A. The operator will ask for your phone number, address, and family members' first and last names. They will want to know what is happening.

    Q: You're playing with an old phone. Can it call 911?
    A.     Yes, dispatchers get many accidental calls from kids playing with old phones. Even phones that are no longer connected to service can still call 911. Be very careful not to call 911 from old phones. If you do accidentally call, stay on the line and tell them what happened.

    Q: Should you call 911 if you get grounded by your parents and are mad?
    A.     No. This is something to talk with your parents about, not 911. Never call 911 if it isn't an emergency.

    A mom wearing her hair in a curly ponytail talks with her young daughter.

     

    Q: If you call 911 by accident, will you get in trouble?
    A.     No. It happens! Stay on the phone and tell them what happened. The operator might ask you a few questions to make sure you are OK and don't need help.

    Q: If there's a fire, should you leave or call 911 first?
    A.     Leave first. The most important thing is for you to be safe. Get to a place of safety, then call 911.

    911 FAQs

    Frequently asked questions about 911:

    Call 911 when you're in a situation where you or others feel unsafe or threatened.

    This includes:

    • Fire
    • Crimes in progress
    • Medical emergencies
    • Life/property in immediate danger
    • Vehicle crashes

    Don't call for non-emergencies like:

    • Power outages
    • Help for pets (call your veterinarian)
    • Theft that already happened (call your police department's non-emergency line)
    • Questions about street closures, weather, or laws/regulations

    In general, 911 operators ask callers for:

    • Location
    • Contact number
    • Address
    • Nature of emergency
    • Follow-up details

    You can text 911 in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. 

    Texting is ideal if:

    • The caller has speech or hearing impairments
    • A medical emergency makes the caller unable to speak
    • Instances where making noise could endanger the caller

    You do need to have a text or data plan with your phone carrier to text 911.

    Stay on the line and explain what happened. If you hanve up, a 911 operator will try to call you back to make sure you're OK. They might even dispatch a police officer to your location.