Emergency! Don't let the word scare you. You can be a big help when someone is hurt or in danger. Dialing 911 on your telephone is the fastest way you can get help for yourself or someone else.

What's 911?
Emergencies don't happen very often. But when someone needs help, they need it fast! No one wants to spend time looking up the phone number.

But not too many years ago, people had to find the right phone number in an emergency. If there was a fire, people phoned the fire department. If there was a crime, people called the police. If someone got hurt, an ambulance had to be called. Finding a number for any of these emergency workers could be very confusing - especially if a person was in a hurry or in an unfamiliar area.

Today, there's a much easier way to get help. You can be prepared for any emergency. You don't have to know lots of different phone numbers. You can reach the fire department, the police, or an ambulance by simply dialing 911. When you call 911, an emergency operator, called a dispatcher, immediately connects you to the person you need.

According to the National Emergency Number Association, 911 covers nearly everyone in the country. Check your phone book to make sure that 911 is the emergency number you should use where you live.

When to Call 911
Sometimes people are confused about when to call 911. These are examples of when not to call 911:

• you can't find your favorite toy or your homework from last night
• your cat got into a fight with another cat
• your brother or your friend dares you to call
• you have a nasty hangnail

Never call 911 as a joke or just to see what might happen. When the emergency dispatcher has to take the time to talk to people who don't have a real emergency, other people who call and do need help right away might have to wait.

The only time you should call 911 is if a person is badly hurt or in danger right now!

• Can you call 911 if there's been a car accident? Yes!
• Should you call if you see a crime, like someone hurting someone else or breaking into a person's house? Of course!
• What if someone suddenly seems very sick and is having a hard time speaking or breathing or turns blue? Call right away!
• What if someone collapses or passes out? Absolutely call!
• What if someone's house is on fire? Definitely call!

Talk to your parents or another adult about when you should call 911. If you're not sure whether there's a real emergency and there are no adults around, it's a good idea to make the call. Just remember, "When in Doubt, Dial It Out: 9-1-1." You could save someone's life!