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Experience has shown the first 60 seconds of every 9-1-1 call are the most critical. Operators need to determine the exact location of the emergency, the nature of the situation, whether anyone is injured and about what elements a responding officer should be advised. A deputy armed with this information can react quickly and accurately and minimize the chance that further damage will occur or innocent bystanders will be hurt.
In any threatening emergency, immediately dial 9-1-1 from any telephone (the call is free from all pay phones). For non-emergency law enforcement needs, please call the Desoto County's Sheriff's Department at (662) 429-1470.
Naturally, all of these questions won’t be asked on every call but, many questions have to be asked to obtain the proper information needed for responders. Asking the proper questions helps the dispatcher and the officers along with Fire/EMS units responding to the scene to draw a mental picture of the on going situation.
To get the proper answers the dispatcher must ask the proper questions such as:
- Who are you?
- Where are you?
- What is your phone number?
- Who did you see do what?
- What are they wearing?
- Which way are they going?
- When did it happen?
- Why did it happen?
- How did it happen?
- Are there any weapons involved?
- Are there any hazards? (such as fuel leaking, debris in roadway, road closings, suspects or subjects involved under the influence of alcohol or narcotics etc)
- Is anyone injured?
On a medical call questions may be different and are usually:
- What is the address of the emergency?
- What is the phone number you are calling from?
- What is the problem, tell me exactly what happened?
- How old is the patient?
- Is the patient conscious?
- Is the patient breathing?
- Does the patient have a medical history?
Depending on the answers the caller provides, the call can take a different turn and you may be asked to perform pre arrival instructions.
Read more about Desoto County's Communications Division that handles 911 dispatch calls.
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