Here are some things to expect when you dial 911…

What is your emergency? Be ready to give an accurate description of the emergency. They will probably ask if anybody is injured. Then they will ask for a location. They will ask what township or county. If you don’t know, just say so. Hopefully you can at least give them an address or a nearby landmark.

At this point, they will probably put you on hold to dispatch the call. Do not hang up. They will then get back to you to gather more information.

If possible, send someone out to the road to flag down the first responders. Sometimes they will place you on hold several times as they process the information and coordinate with the first responders. Never hang up unless instructed to do so. Stay with the phone or keep it near you in case they try to call you back for some reason.

If possible, clear the area of obstacles, vehicles, etc. Depending on the type of emergency, there may be a significant amount of emergency equipment coming to the scene.

Try to speak clearly into the phone so the dispatcher can get accurate information to send help to the right place in a timely manner.

Hopefully, this is a call you will never have to make, or at least not too many times. But don’t hesitate to call if necessary. Most responders would rather turn around than deal with a delayed, uncontrolled situation.

Employers should consider placing signs with the address of the workplace. Crews working at job sites should all have the address of where they are on their work orders. If the job site does not have a specific address, provide the dispatcher with the nearest intersection, then give directions, such as: “Go west for a mile to…”

Be safe.

Benuel, Fox Run Timber