The 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone Service the fastest way to call for police, fire, and ambulance service in an emergency situation.  In the event that 911 is not working due to unforeseen technical difficulties, you can contact the New Hope Eagle Fire Company by dialing 215-862-2400 (emergencies only!).  Under normal circumstances, this number will transfer your call directly to the 911 call-takers.  Should there be a problem the prevents them from taking calls, your call will be answered by the New Hope Eagle Fire Company directly, and we will get you the assistance you need.

In an emergency situation where you require the assistance of the police, the fire department or an ambulance, 9-1-1 provides immediate access to all the emergency services.

Regardless of where you are calling from, when you dial 9-1-1 your call will be answered by special 9-1-1 operators at a 911 call center.  When calling from Bucks County, you will be connected to the Radio Room in Doylestown.

When you call 9-1-1, the system, in most cases, will automatically identify the number of the telephone that you are calling from, as well as the actual address of the phone and the name of the registered owner.  If you are on a mobile phone, "PBX" type office telephone system, or Voice Over IP, please be prepared to give the call taker a phone number the can reach you at, as well as your exact location.

Normally, the 9-1-1 computer compiles your address and phone number before your call is connected to an operator. You will not hear anything during this time; be patient, it takes a couple of seconds for the computer to finish its process.

The 9-1-1 operator will ask you which service you require, "Police, Fire or Ambulance". If you're not sure which service you require, they will question you to determine the right one. You will then be immediately connected to the correct agency.

The call-taker at the requested agency will ask for your name, address, phone number and the nature of the emergency. This information is required in all emergency reports. Answer all questions as clearly as possible; if necessary, a vehicle may be dispatched as you are answering. Follow the dispatcher's instructions and stay on the phone until you are told to hang up. Try and stay calm.

If you do call 9-1-1, but can't speak or continue the call, help can still be sent to you. This problem is not uncommon; sometimes people are panicked or disoriented when they call in an emergency, or are in personal danger and cannot speak. The advantage of the automatic location identification in the "enhanced" system is that it accommodates this problem by providing the caller's location.

In most cases, the Automatic Location Identification will provide you name, address and phone number. The system also works for unlisted numbers and for pay phones.

You can call 9-1-1 from any phone. If you're at a pay phone, you don't need any money; just dial 9-1-1. You can also call 9-1-1 free if you are using a cellular phone, even if the cellular phone is not currently activated (this is a great use for your old phones that you no longer use: keep them in your car or other location where you might need to call for help but may not have access to another phone.  Remember to have a charger or fresh battery available.)

Please don't call 9-1-1 just to see if it works. Your test call could cause delays in responding to real emergency calls. If you dial 9-1-1 by mistake, please stay on the line and let the operator know you've made a mistake. Otherwise the operator may assume you are in distress and dispatch the emergency service unnecessarily. Do not program 9-1-1 into your programmable phone; it is too easy to accidentally call 9-1-1.

Calling 9-1-1 is usually faster than contacting your local emergency services directly. Calling 9-1-1 has the advantage of providing your name and address to call-takers at the emergency agencies.

There are a few very important things you should do in order to be prepared should you ever have an emergency.

1. Post the 9-1-1 number next to your phone. Make sure everyone in the house – including your children, your babysitter or anyone else who is staying with you – knows the number and can see it when they reach for the phone.
2. Make sure your home is easy to locate. The police officers, firefighters, and ambulance attendants need to be able to find your home immediately. The address on the front of
   your house must be easy to read from the street. The numbers should not be blocked by trees or hidden in any way and should be well lit at night.

We hope you never have to call 9-1-1, but if you do have an emergency, 9-1-1 is the number to call.

Call 9-1-1 and help will come.