When you call 911, stay on the line
Posted Aug 3, 2016 06:24:09 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — Emergency responders say callers to 911 play a critical role in helping fire crews, paramedics and police get to where they need to be — and that’s why they don’t want you to hang up once you’ve told them what’s wrong.
Danielle Cardinal with Ottawa Fire Services says chasing down vague and imprecise reports of smoke spotted, or what a caller thinks is a boater in distress can eat up a lot of time and resources for emergency responders.
She says 911 operators are trained to ask questions that can help direct fire, police and paramedics most efficiently, and she says that’s especially critical in rural locations.
Cardinal says if it’s safe to do so, you should stay on the line when you call 911.
The reminder comes after Ottawa fire crews responding to a 911 call Tuesday about smoke from a possible fire had to hunt for the rural fire scene using vague directions from a caller who didn’t stay on the line with the dispatcher.
