ARLINGTON, Texas — Seconds can make a difference in emergencies, and Arlington’s dispatchers are offering crucial advice to ensure timely assistance during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
The Office of Communication in Arlington emphasizes the importance of remaining calm, verifying your phone number and location, and providing brief yet detailed information when calling 911. “Answering questions does not delay the dispatch of assistance,” stated the source. Dispatchers send help while call takers gather additional information to ensure safety.
In cases of 911 hang-ups, Arlington’s policy is to respond to all such calls. If assistance is no longer needed, callers should stay on the line and inform the call taker to prevent unnecessary dispatches. Misuse of the emergency line can endanger those in need and may lead to prosecution for false reports.
Additional tips include speaking clearly, providing your address and phone number, and describing your problem and yourself to help emergency units reach you swiftly. Callers are advised to listen to the 911 call taker, answer questions, follow instructions, and remain on the line until told otherwise.