Scout Skills

Emergency Prep · Response

Calling 911

When there's a real emergency — someone seriously hurt, a fire, a crime in progress — call 911. Stay calm and tell the dispatcher the most important thing first: WHERE you are, then WHAT the emergency is, then your phone number. Do what they say, and don't hang up until they tell you it's okay.

First
Your location
Then
The emergency
Then
Your phone number
Rule
Don't hang up

How to make the call

  1. 1Recognize an emergency — serious injury/illness, fire, crime, or danger; if unsure, call.
  2. 2Get to a safe spot and call 911 — on a cell, know it may route to a regional center.
  3. 3Give your LOCATION first — an address, or a detailed backcountry description with landmarks and coordinates.
  4. 4State the emergency — what happened, how many hurt, any hazards.
  5. 5Give your phone number for callback.
  6. 6Follow the dispatcher's instructions — including any first aid they guide you through.
  7. 7Stay on the line until told to hang up; send someone to flag down responders if you can.

When to use it

  • Any emergency at home, at camp, or on the trail needing police, fire, or EMS.
  • First-aid response — calling for help is a first step in serious ("hurry case") emergencies.
  • The Emergency Preparedness and First Aid merit badges.

Common mistakes & safety

  • Location is everything. Responders can't help if they can't find you — give the address or a precise backcountry description first, and know your location before an emergency.
  • Stay on the line. Hanging up early can cut off life-saving instructions and delay help; wait until the dispatcher releases you.
  • Backcountry: 911 may not work. No cell signal means you may need a satellite messenger, a whistle, or to send runners — plan your emergency communications before you go.
  • Call for real emergencies only — false or prank calls are illegal and tie up help someone else may need.
  • Send help toward you — if possible, have someone meet responders at the road or trailhead to guide them in.

Going deeper

  • Where, what, number. The three things a dispatcher needs — in that order, because location is what gets help moving.
  • Answering questions doesn't slow help. Dispatchers often send responders while still on the line; keep answering.
  • Don't hang up. The most common mistake — the dispatcher's instructions are part of the rescue; stay on until they say go.

Official source

National 911 Program — 911.gov →

This is standard EMS/911 guidance — confirm against 911.gov / Red Cross. Detailed first-aid treatment lives in the first-aid pages; no medications or dosages appear here.

Related skills

Emergency PrepFamily Plan Emergency PrepSignaling Emergency PrepBe Prepared Emergency PrepSearch & Rescue SurvivalIf You're Lost Emergency PrepEvacuation