The Town of Yorktown, Indiana

Communications

Calling 911

Dispatchers at the Delaware County Emergency Communications Center can assist callers with pre-arrival instructions, get a clearer picture for incoming units, have equipment respond in the safest manner possible and reassure the caller/patient that help is on the way

What to expect when you call:

• The dispatcher will answer by asking "What is the address of the emergency?"  You need to know the address you are at.  If it is an apartment, know the unit number.

• Where, exactly, is the patient? Are they in the bedroom? Are they in the front yard?

• What's the phone number you're calling from? Even with enhanced 9-1-1 the dispatcher has to confirm the number you are calling from. This is important if you lose communications with the dispatcher they can call you back.

• What's the problem, tell me exactly what happened?  Tell the dispatcher exactly what happened.  "Martha slipped and hit her head. She is bleeding from a cut on her hand."

• Are you with her now?  Yes or No. "Martha is out front but I can take the phone out to be with her" or "Martha is in her room and there is no phone access

• How old is s/he? If you don't know exactly an approximate will do.

• Is s/he conscious? Yes or No

• Is s/he breathing? Yes or No.  If you have not checked the dispatcher will ask you to go check and tell them what you found

The goal of the dispatch system is to provide the best care to our patients not only when the fire department arrives but before their arrival at an emergency. By the information you give the dispatcher the Yorktown Fire Department can respond quickly with up-to-date information should you need medical attention.

Texting 911

Delaware County 911 can now receive and send text messages.  While this is not a preferred method for reporting emergencies, dispatchers understand that there are some situations in which texting may be the only option for communicating with 911.  

Smart 911

Delaware County now participates in the Smart 911 program.  It works like this:

1. Sign up at Smart 911 

2. Fill out a profile, adding as much or as little information as you'd like.  This can include- but is not limited to- descriptions of the home and how to access it, i.e. "down a long driveway", access codes if protected by a gate or security system, a list of people and pets in the home, medications, illnesses, allergies, physical attributes, and other medical information for each resident, vehicles owned, and even pictures of people, pets, or vehicles.

3. This information remains secure and can ONLY be accessed by the dispatchers if a 911 call is made from a phone number associated with the profile.  This information can then be passed on to first responders.

4. Account owners will be asked to confirm details or update their account every 6 months to ensure information is still current.

This service is an excellent way to be proactive about you and your family's safety.  By taking a few minutes to fill out the information that is important to you, emergency dispatchers will immediately have access to information that can otherwise take valuable time to discover.  While this service is highly recommended for everyone, it can be especially useful for people with special considerations they wish to pass on to first responders- physical descriptions and pictures of family members prone to wandering, codes for gated communities, bedridden or paralyzed family members, important medications for certain household members, etc.