First Aid Calling for Help Before You Call 911 on a Cell Phone By Rod Brouhard, EMT-P facebook twitter linkedin Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients. Learn about our editorial process Rod Brouhard, EMT-P Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO on November 22, 2019 Michael Menna, DO, is a board-certified, active attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Michael Menna, DO Updated on January 08, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Cell Phones vs. Landlines Location, Location, Location Any Phone Will Do Keep Calm and Speak Clearly There's a difference between calling 911 on a mobile phone and calling from a landline. The difference has to do with how the calls are routed and how they're tracked. If you know what to expect, you're more likely to get the help you need when you need it. In most parts of the United States, when you call 911 from a landline, emergency responders can find you—even if you don't know where you are or you can't speak. When you call 911 from a traditional landline (a telephone connected to the lines on the poles) a computer in the dispatch center will show the number and address of the phone you're using. The ANI/ALI (automatic number identification/automatic location identification) is standard equipment in any Public Service Answering Point (PSAP), colloquially known as the 911 center. Verywell / Cindy Chung Mobile Phones Aren't Landlines When you make a 911 call on a cell phone, you are sending signals through the air. The tower that picks up your phone's signal may be near or not. That's not enough information for the dispatcher to find you. It's like playing "Marco Polo" in the pool when you're blindfolded and only have sound to guide you. The Federal Communications Commission intends to require all wireless carriers to be able to pinpoint your location for 911 dispatchers, but the rollout of the rule will occur in phases and there are plenty of exceptions. Location, Location, Location When you call 911 from a mobile phone, the call often lands in a regional center. A call-taker in a far-away city or county may answer. In this case, you'll need to supply some important information. Before they can dispatch help, there are two pieces of information the call-taker needs to know immediately: The city you're calling from The type of emergency you have (police, fire, or ambulance) Different emergency services use different dispatch centers. Once they have the information they need the call-taker can transfer you to the correct center. Any Phone Will Do Wireless carriers are required to complete 911 calls, even when the phone is not activated. Any phone that turns on and can receive a signal is capable of making a 911 call. Important Note If the phone you're using isn't activated, there isn't a phone number assigned to it. That means if you're disconnected from the dispatch center, you must call 911 back. They will not have a way to call you. Keep Calm and Speak Clearly Professional call-takers are trained to get information from you. They're staring at a computer screen that has all the relevant questions. Listen carefully and answer as concisely as possible. Remember: responders can only respond if they know where they're going. Make sure you communicate the location with as many details as possible. The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) reports that in 2011, more than 31% of U.S. households were only using a wireless phone. Additionally, NENA reports that in 2011, there were 146 million 911 calls from mobile phones. What Happens After You Call 911 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Emergency Number Association. Cell Phones and 9-1-1. Published 2011. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 911 Wireless Services. Updated June 2018. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services. Frequently Asked Questions. National 911 Program. Additional Reading Ewen S. What Information Should You Give Dispatchers When Calling 911? EMS1 Network. Published January 2017. Public Safety and Homeland Security. 911 And E911 Services. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Updated December 2019.