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911
Related Pages: Emergency Communications
The Emergency Communications Office is responsible for operating the Emergency Communications Center, which answers all 911 calls, switchboard calls, and dispatches fire and police emergency responses.
Q:
Can I call 911 to find out if my kids have school?
A:
Please do not call 911 to get school closing reports. Other options are television news stations or radio stations, which provide good coverage on closings. Also some schools have special phone numbers for parents to call. Others have preset recordings about closings and school delays.
Q:
What happens if someone in my house dials 911 by accident?
A:
If someone calls 911 by accident please stay on the line and explain to the 911 operator who you are and what has happened. Some cities and towns will still require a police car to respond and confirm everything is ok (this is for your safety).
Q:
What happens when I call 911 from my cellular phone?
A:
In Massachusetts when you call 911 from your cell phone your call is taken by the Massachusetts State Police. It is very important to state the type of emergency and where you are; also give the 911 operator your name and cell phone number in case you lose your connection. If you don't know your location look for street signs or names on buildings, anything to help a dispatcher locate you and send proper assistance where needed.
Q:
What do I do if I need to call 911 but can’t talk or don’t want someone to know I’ve called 911?
A:
If you need to call 911 and can not speak for any reason such as a physical impairment, injury or an intruder, or maybe some type of domestic violence situation, the following steps should be taken. If you are using a touch-tone phone you can press the following buttons after a 911 operator has received your call:
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PRESS 1 FOR POLICE
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PRESS 2 FOR FIRE
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PRESS 3 FOR AMBULANCE
The Communications personnel will send you the appropriate help that you need. You may want to press the button that you have chosen several times to be sure that it has been received at the 911 center.
Q:
How do 911 operators know my information when I have call blocking on my phone?
A:
Communications personnel receive your information on an ALI (automatic location identifier) screen. This provides us with your location, phone number and the name of person who owns the phone. This feature overrides any call blocking you have added to your phone lines. Remember 911 is for emergencies, so this is very helpful to both the communications personnel and you the caller.
