The 911 system was designed to provide a universal, easy-to-remember number for people to reach police, fire or emergency medical assistance from any phone in any location, without having to look up specific phone numbers. You can use 911 system text option when there is a dangerous situation which requires you to be silent. The deaf and hard-of-hearing have the same option to use the 911 system text service.
Call If You Can, Text If You Can’t
Activity and coloring pages to learning 911 facts, safe to talk out aloud, if that happens you can text 911 for help!
In an Emergency, Dial 911 or Your Local Emergency Number Immediately.
Helpful Tips
An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department or ambulance. Examples include:
- A fire
- A crime, especially if in progress
- A car crash, especially if someone is injured
- A medical emergency, especially for symptoms that require immediate medical attention
If you’re not sure whether the situation is a true emergency, officials recommend calling 911 and letting the call-taker determine whether you need emergency help.
When you call 911, be prepared to answer the call-taker's questions, which may include:
- The location of the emergency, including the street address
- The phone number you are calling from
- The nature of the emergency
- Details about the emergency, such as a physical description of a person who may have committed a crime, a description of any fire that may be burning, or a description of injuries or symptoms being experienced by a person having a medical emergency
Remember, the call-taker's questions are important to get the right kind of help to you quickly. Be prepared to follow any instructions the call-taker gives you. Many 911 centers call tell you exactly what to do until help arrives, such as providing step-by-step instructions to aid someone who is choking or needs first aid or CPR. Do no hang up until the call-taker instructs you to do so.
Text-to-911: Quick Facts & FAQs
Helpful Tips
- Today most consumers can reach 911 by sending a text message from their wireless phone.
- In limited areas of the United States, however, it is now possible to use certain wireless telephone services to send a text message to 911. This means that in such areas, if you are unable to make a voice 911 call, you can type your message on your wireless phone and send it to a 911 operator. But even where text-to-911 is available, if you are able to make a voice call to 911, and if it is safe to do so, you should always make a voice call to 911 instead.
- FCC rules require all wireless carriers and other providers of interconnected text messaging applications (i.e., those text messaging providers that enable consumers to send text messages to and from U.S. phone numbers) to deliver emergency texts to 911 call centers upon request. If a 911 call center requests text-to-911 service, text messaging providers must deploy the service in that area within six months.
- If you attempt to send a text to 911 where text-to-911 service is unavailable, you should receive an immediate "bounce-back" message that text-to-911 is not available and that you should contact emergency services by another means, such as by making a voice call or using telecommunications relay services (the latter for consumers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability).
Ask your wireless phone company if text-to-911 is available in your area. You can also ask your state legislators or public safety officials if your local 911 center is prepared to accept text-to-911 messages. Public information lines, such as 211 or 311, also may have more information on text-to-911 service availability in your area. (Also, see information on specific areas where Text-to-911 is available.)
Voice calls to 911 are usually the most efficient way to reach emergency help. For example, voice calls allow the 911 operator to ask questions and obtain information from the caller, while two-way communication by text can take more time and is subject to limits on the length of text messages more quickly. In addition, when you make a voice call to 911, the call taker will typically receive your phone number and the approximate location of your phone automatically.
Public Downloads
All items are free to view, share, and download.
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Download Personal Safety Activities
2-1-1 An Easy-to-remember Three-digit Number to Obtain Free Services and Resources 
2-1-1 Dial if you Need Help and Non-emergency Information 911 Call for Emergency Learning and Safety Activity Book About Grown-Ups You Know and Trust by Kim Cavill Safety Activity 
About Grown-Ups You Know and Trust Safety by Kim Cavill - Level One Care of Older Adults Home Safety Caring for Your Parents Checklist of Activities of Daily Living Child Safety Coloring Book Child Safety on the Farm Guide Crisis Prevention Safety Plan Feeling Safe Being Safe Home Safety Activity Book and Action Plan Keeping Myself Safe Activity Book Personal Body Safety and Neglect Prevention Personal Health Sports Safety Activity Series Grades 3 to 5 Personal Health Sports Safety Activity Series Grades 6 to 8 Safety Around Dogs Activities for Children Sports Safety Tip Sheet Sun Safety Packing List Teaching Stranger Safety Skills to Children and Adults Text-to-911 What You Need to Know Trauma Safety Activity Book Download Educational Gun Safety Activities
Be SMART for Kids for Gun Safety Handout Be SMART for Kids for Gun Safety Handout - Spanish3 Be SMART for Kids for Gun Safety Holidays Be SMART for Kids for Gun Safety Holidays Spanish Be SMART for Kids for Gun Safety Talking About Responsible Gun Storage Spanish Be SMART for Kids for Gun Safety Talking to Your Children About Guns Domestic Violence Firearms Safety Tip Sheet Educator Guide in the Battle Over Gun Control Firearm Safety Manual Firearm Terminology 
firearms 
Gun Safety Spelling Worksheets Gun Safety Tips Gun un Control Lesson Plan for Youth Gun Violence Awareness Program for Youth - Design Matters 
Healthy Firearm Safety in Your State Introduction to Guns and Gun Safety in the Home Police Department’s Child Safety Coloring & Activity Book Preventing Gun Violence Fact Sheet - American Public Health Association Second Amendment to the United States Constitution The Facts on Guns and Domestic Violence Download Gaslighting Facts and Activities
Download Domestic Violence Facts, Information, and Resources
Video: Danger Rangers
Seven animal heroes called the "Danger Rangers," their robot Fallbot, and their artificial intelligence called SAVO teach children about safety through examples, such as environmental hazards and unsafe places.
