▼

Emergency Communications

Show All Answers

1. Why do I have to answer so many questions when I call for an ambulance?

Wilson County has a program in place called Emergency Medical Dispatching or EMD. Through a series of medical questions the dispatcher is able to determine the severity of the medical condition. Based on the answers to the questions, the proper level of care and response mode is determined.

Also with this system the dispatcher is able to provide medical instruction such as CPR or controlling bleeding to the caller.

2. If the person who answers my 9-1-1 call already has my phone number and address on their computer screen, why am I still asked to provide that information?

The telephone number and address of every call to 9-1-1 must be confirmed. Enhanced 9-1-1 is a wonderful tool, but life or death situations are much too important to rely on a computer database being 100% accurate. Your address and number will be confirmed every time you connect to a 9-1-1 center to make sure the information is correct. If it is not, the phone company will be notified to update or correct the discrepancy.

Other reasons callers are asked to confirm location and phone number is because the emergency could be in another location. More time is wasted by sending units to the wrong locations. The few additional seconds needed to confirm the information and get it right are well spent in obtaining critical information.

3. Why do people who answer the phone ask so many questions instead of just sending help?

The dispatchers are trained to ask various questions pertaining to whatever is being reported to help the dispatcher determine what type of units will respond and how they will respond.

Asking questions does not slow down the response. Usually emergency calls are being dispatched by the other operator while the call taker is still on the phone with the caller.