I ASKED THIS QUESTION TO A 911 DISPATCHER THAT I KNOW……
ok so my paranoid daughter has a question that I can’t answer... If a girl is at home alone and someone breaks in.... hides in a closet and knows that she cannot call 911 because the perp would hear her, can she txt 911???? My answer to her was to call 911 and just put the phone down..... but then she quickly said...well it’s a cell phone and wouldn’t they go to the address that the cell phone is registered to???? Her phone is registered to me in elk grove and she lives in San Jose? So can u explain how that all works... Need to give her piece of mind... She is living in a secured apartment building but she is living alone....
SUGGESTIONS FROM A 911 DISPATCHER (FRIEND)……. (Note: I did not call 911)
I can suggest a couple things...
1. Go on the website or call the carrier and make sure that they link her cell phone number w/ a physical address. If you have a family plan each number should be able to have a physical address (not billing) associated with it. I have tmobile family plan and there is a section in account settings on line that says something like "911 info". That being said, it is on record, however at this point it takes more than just a phone call to get the physical address out of the cell company (i.e. faxed req from PD etc) and that can take important time away from getting to her location. Still its a good idea to have that info on record.
2. Cell phone companies are slowly implementing a GPS type of system. When we get a cellular 911 call we get Latitute/Longitude numbers that can be mapped thru google or mapquest or some dispatch centers have maps installed in conjunction with their phone system that maps it as the call comes in. NOTE: the GPS is not 100% accurate. It is usually a diameter area that is about 100 yards from actual location of the phone. Also if she has a cell phone that has gps that she can activate, then have her do that. If the cell phone is on IT CAN be GPS'd, even when she is not on the phone. Tell her to always keep the battery full and never turn it off.
3. As for the texting... I know its coming, but as far as I know, California has not yet got on board with that technology.
So, my advice (both professionally and as a parent) is... Definately dial 911 first... Some agencies have location information that is associated with a name or phone number if she's called 911 before. She should ALSO make sure she has programmed her local police department's direct emergency phone number so that she won't go to CHP dispatch when she needs San Jose PD... they would have to transfer her and CHP is inundated with calls and often there is a hold time. Also, the number will always pop in, so if she has any time at all to say her address clearly and quickly she needs to first say that before telling the dispatcher what the reason for the call is. An open line without talking can be very helpful for a few reasons... one, gives the gps time to zoom in... in other words, we can retransmit the signal and it sometimes narrows in closer to the correct location, two, the dispatcher can ascertain alot just by listening to what is happening and then be able to tell the officers what they are hearing.
Another idea would be to just call her local police department and see if she can give her info for them to put into their system (depending on the type of computer program they use).
Another idea would be if she has time to text anyone... she could send a text w/ a brief mssg saying call 911 for me .. need help someone breaking in .. etc., but that would have to be someone who knows her address. We often get calls at our 911 center for another agency to answer. For instance yesterday a female called 911 for a medical aid for her brother in Fresno. She was on the phone w/ him and he couldn't talk so she called us and we were able to get the info and call Fresno Fire/PD to get help to him.
I know its scary and complicated, but dispatchers are trained to handle the wierdest, scariest, funniest etc., situations possible and we can be creative and at least give it our best shot to get help to the caller.
I AM POSTINF THIS INFORMATION ON MY BLOG BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL MY DAUGHTER POSED THIS QUESTION TO ME..... THEREFORE I AM TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE.
