RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A presidential commission in 1967 recommended a single number nationwide for reporting emergency situations.
The American Telephone and Telegraph Company adopted the digits 911 as the emergency code throughout the country the next year; Congress designated 911 as the national emergency call number 31 years later.
The month of April is now set aside to call attention to the proper use of the emergency number with the establishment of National 911 Education Month, which officially kicked off last year. A Randolph Fire Emergency Services official said using the three-digit number is "vitally important to assure emergency forces are notified as soon as possible."
"Oftentimes seconds do count during a call," said Jesus Lopez, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire inspector. "A small fire may turn into a major fire, a vehicle accident can cause others to get hurt and a hazardous materials incident can impact the environment we live and work in."
Mr. Lopez said it is important that people realize that 911 is for emergencies only - if someone is hurt or in danger or if police, fire or medical assistance is required. He said people who work or live at Randolph should make sure they provide the right information to the dispatcher at the Randolph fire station if they call 911.
"We need the building number, not the mailing address," he said.
Mr. Lopez estimated the dispatch office fields an average of "a couple of 911 calls per day." If the call is from a commercial number on base, it will go directly to the Randolph dispatcher.
"But if the call is from a cell phone, the caller has to make sure they say their emergency is at Randolph because the call is received at the nearest tower and routed back to the base," he said.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Kitchen, 902nd CES dispatcher, said the Randolph dispatch office "is the main hub for the base."
"It operates like a county system," he said. "We get calls from other dispatchers, too. We usually arrive within minutes."
Sergeant Kitchen said the 902nd Security Forces Squadron also fields 911 calls, though the fire station dispatch office provides initial response.
Mr. Lopez said the dispatch office also handles administrative, or non-emergency, calls, and is the direct link with the east and west air traffic control towers.
Although 911 is for emergencies, callers who aren't sure their situation is an emergency should err on the side of safety. Dispatchers have a checklist of questions to ask for a variety of situations.
"Everybody has their own opinion of what an emergency situation is," Sergeant Kitchen said. "That's why we're here - to make that call. But sometimes we don't know the seriousness of a situation until we get to the scene."
He said security forces plays a key role in emergency response, oftentimes making it easier for the firefighters and paramedics to do their job.
"They make it safe for us to get on the scene for what we need to do," Sergeant Kitchen said.
Mr. Lopez said the majority of 911 calls at Randolph are for medical responses, followed by fire alarm activations and smoke investigations. Actual structural fires continue to decline.
"That's the trend in cities throughout the country, for more medical responses," he said.
Mr. Lopez said it is also important to "train children early so they can learn the proper use of 911." Children should know when to call 911 and what happens when they call 911. They should also be taught to stay on the line until the dispatcher tells them to hang up, important information the dispatcher needs to know - such as their address and parents' names - and the importance of staying calm.
Mr. Lopez said the 911 system continues to improve.
"Now we have enhanced 911, which gives the location of the caller if it's a land line," he said.
Mr. Lopez said Randolph Fire Emergency Services' goal is to "arrive on the scene in a safe manner and mitigate the situation."
"That's what we train for and we stand ready for the next call," he said.