Use your cell phone to obtain services.
The FCC estimates that 70 percent of 911 calls are placed via mobile phones. It makes sense, since accidents often happen away from home and cell phones are nearly always easily accessible. Unfortunately, calling 911 from your mobile phone presents a few logistics problems. Since the 911 system was made for landlines, you need to protect yourself by understanding the restrictions and giving the right information so that emergency services are able to get to you in a timely manner.
No Address
When you call emergency services via a landline, the 911 dispatch center automatically receives information on the address associated with your phone number. This becomes problematic for several reasons when using a cell phone. Not only are dispatchers unable to see the address you're calling from, but cell phone service providers are required to transmit address information within six minutes of a viable emergency call. Unfortunately, the address associated with your cell phone might not be where the accident or emergency took place, burning precious time which could mean the difference between life and death.
Misrouting
When you call 911 from a landline, the call is automatically routed to the dispatch center nearest you. With a cell phone, the routing occurs in conjunction with the nearest cell tower. While the towers are meant to route the calls to the right dispatch center, if your call is picked up by the wrong tower and misrouted to another center. This slows response time, especially when a dispatcher must find where you are and contact the emergency services nearest you.
DIsconnection and Call Quality
A landline transmits information so a dispatcher knows where you are when you call and contact you, should you become disconnected. Cell phones take longer to transmit the same information and if you have certain privacy features on your phone, might not transmit at all. This means if you become disconnected, the dispatcher doesn't know where your are and might not be able to reconnect. Call quality is also an issue. If you don't have full service, it might be difficult for the dispatcher to understand where you are and what you need.
What to Do
If you have to call 911 services on your cell phone, remember a few tips that ensure the best response time possible. First, give your cell phone number so the dispatcher can call you back if the call is dropped. Then, state where you are as accurately as possible, using street names and landmarks as directions, if necessary. Finally, state your emergency and stay on the line for as long as possible to receive the fastest service.
Tags: cell phone, your cell, your cell phone, dispatch center, emergency services, address associated, address associated with