Locate Our Citizens At Times of Emergency
 

WELCOME TO THE APCO PUBLIC INFORMATION PAGE

 

Every day across this nation, thousands of people just like you seek immediate assistance in times of crisis by calling 9-1-1.

APCO International represents the thousands of very real people who answer those calls, every hour of every day. Our members are the people who are asking you questions, dispatching the emergency help you need, staying on the phone with you while you await the arrival of help and, often, we are the voice on the phone than tells you how to open your friend's airway so you can do CPR or how to control the severe bleeding from that cut to the head.

APCO is all about public safety communications services and how you are the reason we come to work every day. We want to be ready to help you. We hope, through this web page, you can learn more about 9-1-1 and help us when the seconds are flashing by and help is needed right now.

 

WHAT EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT 9-1-1

  • How does 9-1-1 really work?
  • How do the 9-1-1 officials know where I live?
  • What if I call 9-1-1 but cannot speak?
  • There is no cost for 9-1-1 service, is there?
  • I can call 9-1-1 on my cellphone, right?
  • Does my cellphone work just like the house phone?
  • The salesperson said my phone has a GPS chip in it, so I can be easily found anywhere in the world when I call 9-1-1, right?
  • Why do I always have to give my location first when I call 9-1-1? 
  • My child is away at college and has a phone in her room, in times of an emergency , the rescuers would know which dorm room was her, wouldn’t they?

Locating YOU while you're on your cellphone

An area of great concern for APCO is finding solutions and correcting the wireless-location problems. APCO International, through its Project LOCATE, has been at the forefront of wireless 9-1-1 regulatory and legislative issues. Project LOCATE was established to help local public safety communications providers bridge the technology and regulatory gap, and to speed the process of implementing location-determination technology on a local level.

The regulatory and legislative process is long, but APCO International understands YOUR expectations when YOU call 9-1-1 from a wireline phone or a cellphone. But the fact is calling 9-1-1 from a wireline phone is not the same as calling from a cellphone. When you call 9-1-1 from a cellphone, your location information may not be available to the dispatcher in the area from which you are calling or the cellphone you're using may not be equipped with location technology.

Before you buy a cellphone, there are a couple of things you should find out:

  • Ask the dealer about the location technology it uses.
  • Check to see if the 9-1-1 center(s) in your area can receive location information.

Remember, not all wireless 9-1-1 calls provide location information!

To get help quickly, be ready to answer these questions:

  • Where is the emergency? Use highway name, direction of travel, mile marker, intersection, landmarks, etc.
  • What number are you calling from? Always give your area code and wireless phone number.
  • What exactly has happened? Clearly describe what has taken place:
    • What is on fire?
    • Is the person conscious and breathing?
    • Is the person visibly injured?
    • Type and number of vehicles involved.
    • If reporting a crime, vehicle and suspect descriptions are important.

If using a phone without a service contract and the call is disconnected, you MUST redial 9-1-1.

Things YOU can do to help:

  • Learn the non-emergency telephone numbers to reach help in your area.
  • Refrain from programming your phone to automatically dial 9-1-1 when one button is pressed.
  • If your wireless phone came with a preprogrammed, auto-dial 9-1-1, disable it.
  • Lock you keypad when your phone is not in use to avoid accidental 9-1-1 calls.

Thank you for your interest in APCO International and Project LOCATE. We'll be updating this page with more life-saving tips and useful information for you. So, please check back soon!