Tips With Dedham's Police And Fire Chiefs For 911 Education Month

DEDHAM -- April is National 911 Education Month. Dedham Police Chief Michael D'Entremont and Fire Chief William Spillane said they want to ensure residents are prepared and able to access help during emergencies.

Around 240 million 911 calls are made in the U.S. each year. Public safety agencies around the country use 911 Education Month to educate community members on 911 resources and best practices.

To ensure your family knows how to get help in an emergency, D'Entremont and Spillane recommend using the following safety tips:

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, including Dedham. The service benefits people who are deaf, hard of hearing or in a situation where they cannot speak and make a voice call. However, a traditional voice call, if possible, is still the best way to reach emergency services.

Know Your Location

Wireless calls to 911 provide location information, but 911 call takers may need more specific information. Be prepared to provide detailed information on where you are so that help can get to you as quickly as possible.

Stay Calm and Don't Hang Up

Until you are instructed to do otherwise, stay on the line so you can provide any necessary information to the 911 call taker. Even if you accidentally call 911, don't hang up. Inform the call taker that you dialed accidentally and that there is no emergency.

Additional 911 education materials are available at www.know911.org.