The Westminster Police Department recognizes April as 9-1-1 awareness month. Groups including the United States Congress and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), a leading public safety association, have also recognized April as National 9-1-1 Education Month, and are encouraging the media, the 9-1-1 community, the wireless industry, and public information providers to engage in 9-1-1 awareness and education activities this month.

An informed caller is 9-1-1's best caller. It's important that you know how to help 9-1-1 help you. In an emergency, seconds matter, so being knowledgeable and prepared can make all the difference. Here's what you can do:

Know when to call 9-1-1 - 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. You should only be dialing 9-1-1 if someone is hurt or in danger, or if you are in immediate need of police, fire, or medical assistance. If you aren't sure if your situation is an emergency, you should err onthe side of safety and call 9-1-1 and let the expert who answers your call make the decision whether to send help or not.

Know where you are-This is probably the most important information you can provide as a 9-1-1 caller, so try to be aware of your surroundings. Make a real effort to be as detailed aspossible. If you are outside and don't know the street address, take a look around and try to find landmarks or cross streets. If you are inside a large building or one with multiple levels, you can help emergency services by letting them know which floor you are on, which apartment you are in, etc.

Know when NOT to call 9-1-1- Please do not call for general information, directions, weather or other non-emergency information. If you are not sure whether your situation is an emergency, call 9-1-1. Remember though, if you tie up 9-1-1 with non-emergency calls, you may be endangering someone else's life.

Stay Calm - When you are on the phone with 9-1-1, you are their eyes and ears. Even though you may want to, try not to panic. If you are crying or yelling, it can be hard for the 9-1-1 operator to understand you. If you are able to stay strong, pull yourself together, and answer all of the 9-1-1 operator's questions, the faster they can get the right services to your location.

Never Hang up- You may have called 9-1-1 by accident, or your situation may have resolved itself, but it is important to let the 9-1-1 operator know this. If you end the call abruptly, the folks at the 9-1-1 center are going to assume that something has gone very wrong and will either call you back or send help anyway. This will take away from the 9-1-1 center's ability to take calls and dispatch services to on-going emergencies, so make sure the 9-1-1 call taker tells you it is ok to disconnect before you hang up. And keep in mind that the call taker can dispatch responders to your location without disconnecting from the call, so, until you are instructed to do otherwise, make sure to hold the line so that you can provide any necessary information or assistance to the 9-1-1 operator.

Please visit www.nena.org/education/911-education-month for more information.

If you have a group that would be interested in a presentation from Westminster Communications, please contact Karin Marquez 303 658 4367