When Should I Call 911?
Any situation involving serious threat to life or property that is occuring right now! If you can't talk, you can text 911.
Emergencies might include, but are not limited to:
- Serious medical problems
- Severe bleeding
- Difficulty breathing
- Any type of fire, or where smoke and flames are seen
- Any situation where life or property is in immediate danger
If you are not sure if something is an emergency, dial 911 and we will help you.
What About Non-Emergencies?
406-457-8866 is the best option for non-emergency situations or those that are not happening right now.
Public Safety Telecommunicators must prioritize calls to help those in life-threatening situations first, and sometimes that means less emergent calls wait a little longer.
If there is a power outage in your area contact your utility company as the 911 Communication Center does not know if there is a power outage in the area.
If You Call 911 By Mistake?
Do not hang up! Stay on the line, you are not in trouble! New technology means that phones, watches, and other smart devices regularly call 911 when the user doesn't intend for them to. Answer the questions provided by the Public Safety Telecommunicator, these are intended to verify it was an accident and that you are safe.
What Will They Ask?
- Where is the emergency (exact address, cross streets, landmarks)?
- What is happening?
- What is your name and phone number?
- If there is criminal activity, what are suspect and vehicle descriptions? Are there any weapons involved?
- If there is a medical emergency, what are the symptoms or injuries of the person?
- If there is a fire emergency, what is on fire, and what else is threatened (structures, vehicles, etc.)?
Let the Public Safety Telecommunicator ask you the questions. They are specially trained and each question has a reason for being asked. Some questions may be asked for than once to clarify or verify information. As soon as the Public Safety Telecommunicator gets enough information the call is dispatched. While this is occuring, you may be asked additional questions or given instructions so rest assured that staying on the phone does not delay dispatch. Instructing the Public Safety Telecommunicator to "hurry up," "get them here now," or yelling profanities does nothing to make responders arrive any faster.
What If I Don't Have Cell Service?
Under federal regulations any working cell phone can call 911 regardless if you ran out of minutes or you aren't subscribed to a particular cellular provider. This means that your old phone that you gave your child to play with can still dial 911 if it is turned on.
Voice calling is always preferred but if you are in an area where cell service is limited a text message to 911 may go through versus a phone call to 911.