911 Emergency Calls

EMERGENCY

Our Communications Center is more than a typical 9-1-1 intake and ambulance dispatch center. While the ambulance is on the way to you, the dispatchers are providing in essence a zero-minute response time. Instead of holding pressure on a wound or providing CPR directly, they skillfully instruct bystanders how to do these things over the phone.

Our team of medical professionals operate under the medical direction of the Muskogee County Emergency Service Medical Director, Dr. Gary Lambert.

We are located in the consolidated Muskogee City-County 911 Center. This allows our dispatchers to have improved and faster communications and coordination between multiple agencies.

Processing Emergency Calls

When you call 911, you reach a 911 Dispatcher. Once you indicate that you need an ambulance, you are transferred to the Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD’s).
It’s their job to evaluate your call and determine the type of response required, all while keeping you calm in what may be a stressful and frightening situation. They enter your call information into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for routing.

Dispatching Emergency Services

Another Dispatcher communicates to first responders in the field. Dispatchers are aware of all calls as they are entered into the CAD system. Appropriate resources are dispatched to each call. The Dispatcher maintains contact with units in the field and coordinates the response of any additional responders like fire and police departments, or helicopters.

Examples of 911 emergencies include chest pain, car accidents, falls, and shortness of breath.

Let the 911 Dispatcher
Guide the Conversation

WHEN A 911 CALL IS MADE WITHIN MUSKOGEE COUNTY, DISPATCHERS WILL ASK YOU:

To confirm the telephone number from which you are calling.
To confirm the location of the emergency.
Questions to provide the fastest and most accurate response to your call for help.

Please be patient and answer all questions to the best of your ability. Answering questions will not slow down the dispatch of your call.

Speak Clearly and Be Aware of Your Surroundings! Let the Dispatcher guide the conversation. Their questions will lead to faster dispatch.

How To Properly Utilize 911 Emergency Services

When You Should Call 911

Chest pain or pressure that lasts more than a few minutes
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath that does not improve with rest
Sudden confusion, fainting, or loss of consciousness
Signs of stroke: sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side), facial droop, difficulty speaking, or sudden vision changes
Severe allergic reaction especially with swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing

Uncontrolled or severe bleeding that does not stop with direct pressure
Major trauma or injury (e.g., car accident, fall, severe burns, gunshot or stab wounds)
Choking
Seizures
Poisoning or drug overdose (whether intentional or accidental)
Drowning or near-drowning incidents

When in doubt, call 911. Emergency dispatchers are trained to assess the situation and send the appropriate help. Acting quickly can save a life

Do Not Call 911 For

× Directions or phone numbers

× Information about animal control issues unless the animal has bitten someone or is currently acting aggressively

× Information on someone in jail or to find out if someone is in jail

× Issues that are not of a police, fire, or medical nature.

× To set up a transfer for an appointment (Doctor appointment, dialysis, etc.)

× To find out if a family member/friend was transported

How To Aid In The Process With 911 Dispatchers

Try to Remain Calm

It’s stressful to call 911, no matter the reason. Remember, the person on the other end of the line is a 911 professional with hundreds of hours of training who knows just how to handle your call, and who has access to get you the help needed.

Know Where You Are and Your Telephone Number

Your location and phone number are critical pieces of information. If you do not know the exact address, provide a hundred block, an intersection, or a landmark to help the Dispatcher understand where you are located.

Answer the Questions Asked

Don’t worry that additional questions are slowing down the dispatch of emergency responders, as they are not. As soon as the Dispatcher has basic minimal information from you, they will start the dispatch, even as you answer other questions.

Be Descriptive

When providing information about an incident, be as descriptive as possible. You may be asked to give identifying information about persons involved in a situation.

Confirm Critical Information

Although the Dispatcher receives basic information based on the telephone from which you are calling, the information comes from a computer database. It is possible that the database could be in error, or that what you are reporting is not at the same location as the telephone you are calling from. For these reasons, the Dispatcher is required to confirm the correctness of the location of the emergency and the telephone number you are calling from.

Help Keep Lines Available

Equally important, when the Dispatcher has finished taking your information, please release the 911 line as soon as possible. As an Emergency Communications Center, we have to balance the competing needs of getting enough information, dispatching with the most speed possible, and making ourselves available for the next 911 call. It is very important that callers help us keep the lines as available as possible so that all emergency calls can be answered as quickly as possible.

Stay on the Line

Depending upon the type of call, we may keep you on the line for additional information or to receive instructions.

Certifications

Muskogee County EMS
200 Callahan St.
Muskogee, OK

(918) 683-0130

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