I have questions about county 911 call centers

[canyonrat]

NEW Questions ---- I have questions about county 911 call centers

I have been calling the direct lines into county 911 centers to verify they are still good. I did this about 10 years ago and posted the list of these numbers.

Why am I doing this.

Because I knew that when you dialed 911 from your cell that it was routed to the California 911 call center located in Vallego. The problem is that if you're out riding and an accident occurs perhaps in an area/county you are not familiar with that you might not know the name of the road you are on and this makes it difficult for the dispatch center to send help to your location. BUT often you can describe the location to the local 911 call center and they can often figure out your location and send help.

What I just heard from Mendocino County 911 call center...

Cell phones have changed recently, and that when you dial 911 from your cell, it will be directed to the nearest call center automatically.

Is this true?

Also are there some counties setting up 911 text numbers? Because sometimes you can get a text out of a canyon when voice signal comes and goes.

See this posting by the National Weather Service about an emergency text number in Mendocino County.
https://www.facebook.com/KmudNews/posts/743289009133940

Thanks for any assistance.

I would like to post up all the 911-County-Call-Centers numbers I currently have since the riding season is starting.

 

[canyonrat]

Also, when should you call the nearest Air-Ambulance aka Life Flight directly for a seriously injured rider? Never? Only if they need CPR or bleeding PROFUSELY?...

 

[TheRiddler]

Your cell phone goes off a tower. Based on where that tower is will determine where the first call goes.

And if you're in who knows where, it'll probably go to CHP.

 

[Jasondt2001]

Your cell phone goes off a tower. Based on where that tower is will determine where the first call goes.

And if you're in who knows where, it'll probably go to CHP.

Exactly... The towers are 'directional' sensing (and it will pick the best tower from the signal of your phone and what communications center will pick up on what address in degrees the phone says it came from) and automatically as best as it can goes the appropriate call center... (CHP, local authority etc etc...).

When you first dial 911 (And 911 ONLY, no location data is sent on a non-emergency line... and if you hang up, and someone calls you back, the callback goes through a NON EMERGENCY line so they CAN'T find you... Call 911 back, ASAP) newer GPS enabled phones send a very 'rough' location, dispatchers can 're-ping/re-bid' your cell phone, which is like manually asking the phone to narrow down it's location (sometimes the first location given is over 1500 meters in accuracy, it's not magic like on TV, so you try to get it narrowed down as fast as possible).

As for air ambulances and medical needs, depending on the type of call or incident, and the questions YOU answer to dispatch (that's why yelling just get someone here helps NOONE, at most agencies ambulance and fire have already been dispatched long before the questions start...) or Law, Fire or EMS can request it through the communications center on scene or when they are still enroute to the call (up to them, dispatch is as detail oriented as possible and they get the info as they drive to the scene) ... as far as i know, I don't believe an air ambulance can be dispatched through a civilian request, I believe it's to let the help on the ground stabilize and get the patient ready for transport, don't hold me to that though.

 

[bojangle]

Exactly... The towers are 'directional' sensing (and it will pick the best tower from the signal of your phone and what communications center will pick up on what address in degrees the phone says it came from) and automatically as best as it can goes the appropriate call center... (CHP, local authority etc etc...).

When you first dial 911 (And 911 ONLY, no location data is sent on a non-emergency line... and if you hang up, and someone calls you back, the callback goes through a NON EMERGENCY line so they CAN'T find you... Call 911 back, ASAP) newer GPS enabled phones send a very 'rough' location, dispatchers can 're-ping/re-bid' your cell phone, which is like manually asking the phone to narrow down it's location (sometimes the first location given is over 1500 meters in accuracy, it's not magic like on TV, so you try to get it narrowed down as fast as possible).

As for air ambulances and medical needs, depending on the type of call or incident, and the questions YOU answer to dispatch (that's why yelling just get someone here helps NOONE, at most agencies ambulance and fire have already been dispatched long before the questions start...) or Law, Fire or EMS can request it through the communications center on scene or when they are still enroute to the call (up to them, dispatch is as detail oriented as possible and they get the info as they drive to the scene) ... as far as i know, I don't believe an air ambulance can be dispatched through a civilian request, I believe it's to let the help on the ground stabilize and get the patient ready for transport, don't hold me to that though.

Yup! ^^^

9-1-1 is the established protocol for many reasons. An obvious one is that you don't need to know any local Dispatch center numbers. Everyone knows 9-1-1. Trying to go around established emergency protocols by calling another number is more likely to slow things down and be less efficient. Just call 911 for an emergency wherever you are. Cell towers have been directional for over a decade and other 911 callback and plotting features make it the only number to call in emergencies.

 

[twinkybuns]

"Also, when should you call the nearest Air-Ambulance aka Life Flight directly for a seriously injured rider? Never? Only if they need CPR or bleeding PROFUSELY?..."

The air-ambulance is dispatched by the 911 dispatcher. If you stay on the phone with 911, they will ask specific questions about the accident and the injuries that you can describe. The helicopter will be dispatched according to the medical protocols of the specific county they are in. The dispatcher might also ask about weather conditions at your location (heavy fog, wind, etc). There are also different types of air-ambulance. Some can perform rescue (cliffs, mountainous areas, etc), some can't, etc. There will always be a ground ambulance sent immediately, but not always a helicopter.
(I'm an EMT on a 911 ambulance for Sonoma County)
Also - everyone please get CPR certified!!!

 

[canyonrat]

Well, it's settled. 911 will be the protocol for the first number tried. My old system of carrying the county numbers is no longer necessary because of improvements with cell tower systems. But we should still carry these numbers as back up do to some remaining issues with the 911 system. See this News Story from Feb 2015...there are several other such stories regarding the same problems.

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news...-still-challenge-californias-system/23858421/

This leads to another question.

Has the old California 911 Cell Phone Center located in Vallejo been closed? This used to be one of a few main Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for the CHP.

This news story from Sacramento asks that you keep the Sacramento 911 center direct line in your phone.
http://fox40.com/2014/05/14/sacramento-911-dispatch-hopes-to-cut-down-on-cell-phone-transfers/

Side note:
Also we ride he fall Hawthorn Rally, so direct Highway Patrol Number is: Nevada: 911 or Cellphone-only:*NHP (star 647)

Any comments welcomed. I'd like to take this to the BARF General section this weekend.

 

[}Dragon{]

"Also, when should you call the nearest Air-Ambulance aka Life Flight directly for a seriously injured rider? Never? Only if they need CPR or bleeding PROFUSELY?..."

The air-ambulance is dispatched by the 911 dispatcher. If you stay on the phone with 911, they will ask specific questions about the accident and the injuries that you can describe. The helicopter will be dispatched according to the medical protocols of the specific county they are in. The dispatcher might also ask about weather conditions at your location (heavy fog, wind, etc). There are also different types of air-ambulance. Some can perform rescue (cliffs, mountainous areas, etc), some can't, etc. There will always be a ground ambulance sent immediately, but not always a helicopter.
(I'm an EMT on a 911 ambulance for Sonoma County)
Also - everyone please get CPR certified!!!

^^^ What he said. Some rural areas will auto-dispatch an air response, some areas have first responders (usually FD) that make the request.

Well, it's settled. 911 will be the protocol for the first number tried. My old system of carrying the county numbers is no longer necessary because of improvements with cell tower systems. But we should still carry these numbers as back up do to some remaining issues with the 911 system. See this News Story from Feb 2015...there are several other such stories regarding the same problems.

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news...-still-challenge-californias-system/23858421/

This leads to another question.

Has the old California 911 Cell Phone Center located in Vallejo been closed? This used to be one of a few main Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for the CHP.

This news story from Sacramento asks that you keep the Sacramento 911 center direct line in your phone.
http://fox40.com/2014/05/14/sacramento-911-dispatch-hopes-to-cut-down-on-cell-phone-transfers/

Side note:
Also we ride he fall Hawthorn Rally, so direct Highway Patrol Number is: Nevada: 911 or Cellphone-only:*NHP (star 647)

Any comments welcomed. I'd like to take this to the BARF General section this weekend.

ALWAYS have the direct dial numbers on hand.

The Vallejo 911 center you are referring to is CHP's Golden Gate Comm Center- they are still open for business.

The big change, is the implementation of e911, which off loads ALL cell 911 calls to CHP, depending on the GPS of your phone, with more intelligent call routing.

If you call 911, Tell them what you are reporting and ask the call taker, who they are with. If you know who you have to talk to ask if they can patch you in to the agency you need.

They may want to take all your info first before transferring incase they lose your call.

I've called 911 on the cell up here and it has been pretty smooth. I had to use it a month ago for an attempted auto burg. Answered in two rings and transferred to the county in 30 seconds.

 

[canyonrat]

Thanks Dragon.

I never thought to ask which agency I was talking to. That is a VERY good tip.

 

[}Dragon{]

Thanks Dragon.

I never thought to ask which agency I was talking to. That is a VERY good tip.

If you use a cell, if you know what agency you need help from, let the call taker know.

Eg:

I live in Santa Rosa and I need to report an armed robbery, is this Santa Rosa PD dispatch?

(Note: It also may vary who actually dispatches the local PD/Fire/EMS- they may be dispatched by a county or a regional communications center)

or:

I'm at the scene of a motorcycle collision with injuries in rural Napa County- is this CHP?

If there is a major regional emergency and 911 is jammed, those local numbers are still worth to keep in speed dial.:afm199

 

[bojangle]

If you use a cell, if you know what agency you need help from, let the call taker know.

Eg:

I live in Santa Rosa and I need to report an armed robbery, is this Santa Rosa PD dispatch?

(Note: It also may vary who actually dispatches the local PD/Fire/EMS- they may be dispatched by a county or a regional communications center)

or:

I'm at the scene of a motorcycle collision with injuries in rural Napa County- is this CHP?

If there is a major regional emergency and 911 is jammed, those local numbers are still worth to keep in speed dial.:afm199

So you can get, "communications, please hold" instead of, "911 what is your emergency".

It can't hurt to have local numbers as backup, but call 911 first......Wait! What's the number to 911?!?!?!??:teeth

 

[}Dragon{]

So you can get, "communications, please hold" instead of, "911 what is your emergency".

It can't hurt to have local numbers as backup, but call 911 first......Wait! What's the number to 911?!?!?!??:teeth

If I have the right agency, and they answer 'communications, please hold', nothing wrong with injecting as the caller, "I'm trying reporting a major injury collision and need Fire and EMS."

It can't hurt to have local numbers as backup, but call 911 first......Wait! What's the number to 911?!?!?!??:teeth

I'm sorry sir, you dialed 912...please hang up and dial again :laughing

The reality of calling 911 via a cellphone, a few years ago, in the bay area region was a nightmare. You could actually get a quicker response using the direct dial number or even the toll free number, than hoping your 911 call being answered in a timely fashion. Back then- it was common to dial 911 and have it ring for 15+ minutes or longer.:afm199

 

[NorCalBusa]

The reality of calling 911 in a widespread emergency is that; no one is coming. You'll need to handle things, whatever they are, on your own.

 

[}Dragon{]

The reality of calling 911 in a widespread emergency is that; no one is coming. You'll need to handle things, whatever they are, on your own.

A widespread major emergency/natural disaster, will break 911 for numerous and multiple reasons.:afm199

During a disaster the 911 system may not only have infrastructure issues, but they will most likely be 'bombarded' with non-life safety issue calls.

When you call 911 and get a busy signal, those direct dial numbers may save your butt or someone's life.:cool

So, as you said, be prepared to take care of you and your own.

 

[NorCalBusa]

A widespread major emergency/natural disaster, will break 911 for numerous and multiple reasons.:afm199

During a disaster the 911 system may not only have infrastructure issues, but they will most likely be 'bombarded' with non-life safety issue calls.

When you call 911 and get a busy signal, those direct dial numbers may save your butt or someone's life.:cool

So, as you said, be prepared to take care of you and your own.

I wouldn't expect the direct dial lines to get answered any faster than 911- its not like they have priority and you wouldn't even be in the call queue.

Kind of the same as a patrol officer calling dispatch because there is so much radio traffic- it helps nothing as they are already overwhelmed. Dispatchers even joke about it- as if there's some secret other person to answer them.

 

[danate]

I wouldn't expect the direct dial lines to get answered any faster than 911- its not like they have priority and you wouldn't even be in the call queue.

Kind of the same as a patrol officer calling dispatch because there is so much radio traffic- it helps nothing as they are already overwhelmed. Dispatchers even joke about it- as if there's some secret other person to answer them.

I always consider direct dialing less emergent and usually for less important things. 911 is the fastest way to get help in an emergency.

Where I work, we call in when radio traffic is busy because our dispatch handles all services for the county and if the dispatchers for my agency are busy it forward it to someone from another service who can help. That's the upside to everyone being on the same system. Most of the dispatchers switch around too so they are all familiar with the different agencies.

I just got my ham license and I'm really interested in learning how all the ARES/RACES stuff works. Since I ride in a lot of areas that don't have cell coverage, it would be nice to be able to connect to other hams or use autopatch to call 911 if I came across something. Anyone familiar with that? Seems useful on the Peninsula and out on Mines Rd/Mt Hammy.

 

[Hoho]

I just got my ham license and I'm really interested in learning how all the ARES/RACES stuff works. Since I ride in a lot of areas that don't have cell coverage, it would be nice to be able to connect to other hams or use autopatch to call 911 if I came across something. Anyone familiar with that? Seems useful on the Peninsula and out on Mines Rd/Mt Hammy.

ARES/RACES is fun, and good to have in emergencies.

I used to work with Union City PD as a member of their ARES/RACES group. We are called in when any emergencies happen that would tax PD/FD communications. We would handle non-emergency messages, usually health and welfare messages for the departments to reduce the load on their system.

We also used to showed up when UCPD did their DUI check points, to flip burgers for the officers running the check point. :laughing

Sadly, members for ARES/RACES for Union City have dried up. Not very many ham radio operators volunteering.

 

[canyonrat]

Thank you all for your comments and interest.

My thinking and focus is for how to get help quickly for a motorcycle accident. First off if it occurs on a road and area you are not familiar with and a far second perhaps a text option because you are in a bad or no cell area. As for the second we have always sent a rider off to a hill top or asked a passing car to call when they got in range or got to a land line. So poor cell service has not really been an issue.

 

[}Dragon{]

Thank you all for your comments and interest.

My thinking and focus is for how to get help quickly for a motorcycle accident. First off if it occurs on a road and area you are not familiar with and a far second perhaps a text option because you are in a bad or no cell area. As for the second we have always sent a rider off to a hill top or asked a passing car to call when they got in range or got to a land line. So poor cell service has not really been an issue.

I wish Sat phones were more affordable.:cool