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Emergency Operations Center

131 South Cherry Street • Columbus, IN 47201

When to use 911

You should call 911 anytime you need help with an emergency.
When someone is hurt or needs medical help due to an illness such as stroke or heart attack, or needs emergency medical help of any kind.
When you see smoke or a fire of unknown origin.
When you see someone else being hurt.
When you believe a crime is being committed.
When you call 911, you will be asked several questions concerning your emergency. Try to answer the questions the best that you can. If you need medical help, first aid or CPR, instructions will be given until help arrives.
When you call 911, don't hang up the telephone until the 911 operator instructs you to. Many times the operator will keep you on the telephone until help arrives.
NEVER call 911 as a joke.
NEVER call 911 and hang up.
If you accidentally call 911, stay on the line until the operator answers and then tell the operator that you dialed 911 by mistake.
Anytime you call 911 and hang up, the operator will attempt to call your number as it appears on the 911 screen. If the operator is unable to contact someone or the line is busy, a police officer will be dispatched to your residence to investigate and see if there is a problem. 911 hang ups take valuable time away from the 911 operator and from the law enforcement agency responding to your residence. They could be needed to help someone else who really needs their help. So never hang up, even if you dialed 911 by mistake.
NEVER call 911 to ask for information. Always dial the administrative telephone number located in your local telephone book when you need to ask a question.
NEVER call 911 just to see if it works.
REMEMBER……….Always call 911 when you have an emergency, anytime you need a police officer in an emergency situation, see a fire or smell smoke of an unknown origin, or when emergency medical help is needed.