National 9-1-1 Education Month Prepares Americans for Emergencies

This April, national public safety organizations are conducting 9-1-1 awareness campaigns that will ensure citizens are ready to get the help they need during emergencies.

The National 9-1-1 Education Coalition, an alliance of eight national organizations committed to promoting 9-1-1 public education across the country, has created a clearinghouse for free 9-1-1 public education materials, available now at www.know911.org. Key messages include:

Know Your Location: Especially when calling from a wireless device, the 9-1-1 call taker may not have access to your exact location. Be prepared to provide detailed information on where you are so that help can get to you as quickly as possible.
Call If You Can, Text If You Can’t: Text-to-9-1-1 service is available in an increasing number of communities around the country. However, a traditional voice call, if possible, is still the best way to reach emergency services.
Stay Calm and Don’t Hang Up: When you are on the phone with 9-1-1, you are their eyes and ears. So, until you are instructed to do otherwise, stay on the line so you can provide any necessary information or assistance to the 9-1-1 call taker.

"You don’t wake up in the morning thinking you are going to call 9-1-1. However, should you have to, it may be the most important call you ever make," said Brian Fontes, CEO of NENA: The 9-1-1 Association. "That’s what makes 9-1-1 Education Month so very important. In an emergency, seconds matter; being knowledgeable and prepared can make all the difference."

Additional resources are available at www.nena.org/education-month.

National Emergency Number Association