Using Cell Phones in an Emergency - Civil Air Patrol (June 2005)

	Lincoln Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol SAFETY TIPS June 2005 More Safety Tips

Attention Lincoln Composite Squadron Members: All members are REQUIRED to take part in the monthly safety briefings in order to participate in CAP activities. If you are unable to attend the June 2005 Safety Briefing, read the information following and answer the three questions.

You can print this web page off and bring it to the next LCS meeting or email Col Bruce Marxsen, squadron safety officer the answers to the questions (put in the subject message of the email June Safety Briefing)

The Use of Cell Phones in an Emergency
prepared by Col. Bruce Marxsen

Cell phones used to report an accident, fire, or crime in progress can be a '911 Center' headache if the caller cannot or does not report a specific location. When a 911 call is made from a land-line phone associated with an address, the 911 dispatcher can see the caller's phone number and address on a screen. Cell phones do not provide an address. In the state of Nebraska, there are in excess of 850,000 cell phones. Eventually, the cell phone system will be able to pin-point within 300 feet where the cell phone call was made based on positions from the nearest towers. However, less than half of Nebraska counties have cell towers to determine such an exacting location. Until an exact location can be determined to pin-point a 911 cell call (which involves expensive software installation of the new technology), there are a few things cell phone users can do in an emergency with a call to 911.

If there is an emergency:

Call 911 only when an immediate response by police, fire-rescue or medical services is required.
Try to use road names, numbers, direction of travel, mile markers, intersections, landmarks, etc.
Always give the area code and wireless phone number. If you are using a phone without a service contract and the call is disconnected, you must redial 9*1*1
Clearly describe what has taken place. For example, tell what is on fire, the condition of victims, the types and numbers of vehicles involved. If reporting a crime, thoroughly describe the vehicle and suspect to the 911 operator.

Do not program 911 into your phone and lock the keypads when the phone is not in use to avoid accidental 911 calls.

Lincoln Composite Squadron Members:

If you can not attend the June 2005 Safety Briefing, answer the following three questions. Bring the answers to the next LCS meeting or email Col Bruce Marxsen, squadron safety officer the answers to the questions. Remember to put "June Safety Briefing" in the subject line of your email.

1. True or False = It is difficult to pin down the exact location of a 911 cell call

2. True or False = Call 911 only when you want an immediate response by police, fire-rescue or medical personnel

3. True or False = You should program 911 into your cell phone just in case you need it.

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USE OF THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: You may reproduce these resources for educational purposes but not for sales purposes. If you have questions about using any photographs or images, contact Soni Cochran. You're also welcome to link to this web site. Please credit: Lincoln Composite Squadron - Civil Air Patrol (http://www.newg-cap.org/Squadrons/Lincoln_Composite/)

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