Can I call 9-1-1 from my cell phone?
Yes, but it does not work as well as your home phone or business phone. When you dial 9-1-1 from a cellular phone, you will be connected to a 9-1-1 center but it may not be your local 9-1-1 center depending on which tower your cellular call is using.
There are many important things to remember when calling 9-1-1 from your wireless phone. It is very important that you provide as much information as possible to the dispatcher. You should know:
- Your wireless phone number
- Your exact location
- The name of the road you are traveling on
- What direction you are traveling
- How many miles you are from the nearest town or cross street
- What mile marker you are closest to
Phase I – Present Technology
Wireless phones provide the tower address that is receiving their signal and the cellular callers phone number to the 9-1-1 center. This helps us narrow down where you are if you are not sure of your location. With the phone number provided we can also try to call you back if the connection is lost. This is a big 9-1-1 improvement.
Phase II – Close to Completion
This newer technology started in May 2003. Wireless phones must provide a location by providing longitude and latitude coordinates. Our 9-1-1 center is equipped with computerized maps to accept and display these coordinates for a more accurate location of a cellular caller. Your longitude and latitude is your “virtual address” when calling 9-1-1 from your wireless phone.
There are two technologies that are being used by cellular phone companies.
- Network – Equipment is placed on cell towers and when a cellular call is made, multiple towers use this equipment to determine the caller’s location.
- GPS – Requires the cell phone user to purchase a telephone with a GPS chip inside the phone. This technology uses the GPS satellites revolving around the earth to determine the caller’s location.
| Preventing Accidental Wireless 9-1-1 Calls |
Cellular phones have proven to be an invaluable tool for help when an emergency arises. Quick access to 9-1-1 services is one of the most common reasons why people choose to purchase a wireless phone.
However, this important service is in jeopardy because wireless phones can easily dial 9-1-1 on their own, without the phone’s owner being aware that the 9-1-1 call has been made. Accidental 9-1-1 calls are made when the phone is put in a pocket or purse, and gets bumped.
Another problem is that adults give their old wireless phones to children as toys. Phones with no service can still dial 9-1-1, and 9-1-1 calls from children playing with a phone are not uncommon.
Steuben County Communications is asking for the public’s help in reducing the number of accidental 9-1-1 calls from wireless phones. Each person who owns a wireless phone can do their part to help solve this problem by following 3 easy steps.
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1. |
Lock your keypad. |
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2. |
TURN OFF the 9-1-1 auto dial feature (not all wireless phones have this feature). |
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3. |
DO NOT program 9-1-1 into the speed dial.
(Wireless phone users are encouraged to consult their phone’s manual or contact their carrier for assistance in performing these steps on their phone) |
Please remember
Accidental wireless 9-1-1 calls tie up the phone lines and 9-1-1 emergency call takers. By implementing the steps above, this will ensure that our emergency service people will be available to handle the real emergencies that need our assistance.