Calling for help
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
If you accidentally dial 911, stay on the line and explain it was a mistake rather than hanging up.
Hanging up may cause police to be sent to check on the situation or tie up valuable time as operators attempt to call you back twice per policy.
- One person reported hanging up right away and nobody ever called or investigated.
12 people, independently
In the UK, press 55 on the keypad after calling 999 if you are too scared or unable to speak, but only after making some noise or pressing a key first so the operator knows it is not a misdial.
Operators assume calls without the 55 follow-up are misdials and may drop them; pressing 55 alerts them you need help.
- You must make a noise or press a key before waiting for the silent call prompt, otherwise the operator will not play the message.
2 people, independently
Instruct the person you sent for help to return to you immediately after calling to confirm that help is on the way.
This confirms the call was actually made and prevents the person from leaving without acting.
14 people, independently
Keep old phones away from children to prevent accidental 911 calls that block lines for real emergencies.
Many cities require all phone lines to dial 911, and silent calls from children can clog the queue.
2 people, independently
If you witness a vehicle accident, call 911 even if you believe others have already done so.
Dispatchers prefer multiple duplicate calls over missing the single necessary call, and often no one else stops.
one person who lived it
Use deactivated phones to call 911 if they have signal, as active service is not required.
Any phone with signal can reach dispatchers even without an active plan.
2 people, independently
Call the police if you suspect an intruder rather than attempting self-defense.
Even if you are unsure, they will come out to check it out; do not be a hero.
one person who lived it
Ask the bystander for their name before giving instructions, then use their name when assigning the task.
Using a name creates a personal connection and increases the likelihood they will follow through.
3 people, independently
Keep a landline telephone at home for emergency calls.
911 can locate your exact address from a landline, which one person said literally saved their life.
one person who lived it
- Use a landline for emergency calls when possible to ensure precise location pinpointing.2
25 more on this
Avoid using '9' as the prefix for outside lines on office PBX systems.
Users often stutter on the '1' after dialing '9', which can accidentally connect to 911 services.
one person who lived it
Check the date of a missing person post to ensure it is current before sharing.
People sometimes share reports from years ago.
one person who lived it
Ask bystanders 'Should we call 911?' to prompt them to take action.
This question can break the paralysis of bystanders who are unsure what to do.
one person who lived it
- In an emergency, single out one specific individual to call for help rather than shouting generally, to avoid bystander apathy.1
Check if your local area supports texting to 911 as a safer alternative to calling when you cannot speak freely.
- Texting to 911 is not available everywhere or even in a majority of places; always contact local agencies beforehand to determine availability.
4 people, independently
Ensure a trustworthy adult is tending to an injured child before leaving; if no one is present, stay to calmly reassure the child until their parents arrive.
A scared child without parents needs a calm adult to be with them in the moment.
one person who lived it
Ask the assigned person to confirm they understand the task and to report back when finished.
This ensures you know if they actually completed the task or failed to do so.
4 people, independently
confirm your location with the dispatcher even if GPS data is transmitted
dispatchers need to check the location to ensure they are sending help to the right address
one person who lived it
Listen to the dispatcher's questions and answer only what is asked, rather than providing unsolicited details or narratives.
Dispatchers have a script and need to process information based on it; answering specifically makes the call faster.
8 people, independently
Inform family of your approximate location and expected return time when traveling out of town.
If something happens, they will know where you were going and when you were supposed to be there.
one person who lived it
Delete missing person posts once the case is solved.
Be responsible.
one person who lived it
Ensure you have clear, forward-facing photos of loved ones who are awake and not wearing sunglasses.
Lack of such photos made it difficult to identify a missing friend.
one person who lived it
Stay aware of your surroundings by putting away your phone and avoiding high-risk areas like dark alleys, bad neighborhoods, or dark parking structures.
Criminals want easy targets.
one person who lived it
Take pictures of your location when meeting strangers or in unfamiliar places.
The pictures help even if they are blurry.
one person who lived it
Do not share one person's contact details with another without consent; instead, offer to pass along the other party's information if they wish.
Consent matters.
one person who lived it
Call the emergency number on the railroad crossing sign if you notice signal malfunctions, such as arms staying down or failing to come down, to prevent locals from ignoring the warnings.
Calling attention to malfunctions helps prevent people from getting used to ignoring warning signs.
one person who lived it
When assessing a scene after an incident, ask 'Is anybody hurt?' instead of 'Is everybody all right?'
Asking if everyone is all right may drown out those who need immediate attention.
one person who lived it
Save local non-emergency police numbers in your phone to increase the likelihood of reporting minor incidents or suspicious activity that you might otherwise avoid calling emergency services for.
People often feel it unnecessary or awkward to call an emergency number for non-emergencies.
- Non-emergency lines may be unstaffed; callers might leave a voicemail without follow-up.
one person who lived it
Report broken street lights to the appropriate authority.
Authorities may have no idea a light needs fixing because residents often assume others have already reported it.
one person who lived it
Call emergency services if unsure whether a situation is an emergency and let them decide.
Police prefer non-situation calls and are associated with happier endings.
one person who lived it
Report road hazards to the appropriate authorities: use 911 for immediate dangers and the local Department of Transportation for maintenance issues like debris or disabled vehicles.
Reporting helps resolve hazards such as ladders, logs, suitcases, or non-working traffic lights.
one person who lived it
Provide concise, key details about the scene rather than a full narrative when reporting accidents.
Ignoring proper sentences allows for rapid transmission of critical info like victim status and vehicle details.
one person who lived it
Be patient if placed on hold when calling non-emergency dispatch lines.
Call takers at many dispatch agencies answer both emergency and non-emergency calls, so they may need to focus on incoming emergencies.
one person who lived it
When explaining an accidental 911 call, state your name clearly to help the operator verify your identity and location.
Using your name helps the conversation flow and avoids raising suspicion from hesitation.
one person who lived it
Place a card with your temporary address and phone number in children's shoes when traveling.
one person who lived it
avoid using 411 for directory assistance unless necessary
it is expensive
one person who lived it