TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 9-1-1 emergency reporting system has been around since the late 1960s. Tinker Air Force Base has adopted this method and modernized to 2018 standards to accurately and efficiently serve the Tinker AFB community for all police, medical and fire emergency needs.
The Tinker AFB Fire and Emergency Services Prevention recommend that individuals always use this means of emergency reporting. With specialized callback features and caller ID, it may save your life.
It’s easy to get caught up in the constant influx of new data and processes when using current technology and social networking, this is why 9-1-1 has been a staple used by the emergency services for decades. It’s easy to remember and nationally known on and off base.
The 9-1-1 service has evolved continuously throughout the years. Current capabilities can provide information from the caller, such as building number or address.
Future upgrades allow for texting in an emergency for situations where someone needs to stay as quiet as possible, such as an active shooter scenario.
There have been issues with cell phones using out-of-state numbers connecting to out-of-state 9-1-1 centers, but that issue has been mostly resolved — the best way to insure that this issue does not affect you during your time of need, is to contact your service provider and ask the 9-1-1 question.
If you need to call 9-1-1 from a cell phone, depending on your location or proximity to a cell tower, you may be connected to an off-base 9-1-1 dispatch center. If this occurs do not panic, let them know your location by stating “I am at Tinker AFB,” followed by your exact location.
If you hear dead air on the line after being transferred, do not hang up.
Stay calm and speak clearly and concisely. Your focused efforts will provide pertinent information to help ensure optimal response.
If you have had a fire and extinguished it or it extinguished itself, you still need to call 9-1-1. Fire can travel behind walls and cause damage that untrained people can’t readily see or find. Fire moves quickly, and if it gets into your walls it may be too late to stop it.
Fires are not the only emergencies the fire department handles. We are trained to mitigate hazardous materials spills, bodily injuries, vehicle accidents, medical incidents and a plethora of other situations.
If your situation allows, call 9-1-1 immediately. If your area is the emergency, remove yourself from the danger first and then call 9-1-1. If the danger is a human or animal and you can’t fight back, find a safe place to hide and call 9-1-1.
For any and all emergencies that require the attention of the police, medics or fire department, always dial 9-1-1.