Emergench Calls / May Not Apply in Australia

[rrich]

We have a 'Dial 9 1 1' system for emergencies. (Similar to your 0 0 0 ???)

The big problem with our system is cell phones. All cell phone 9 1 1 calls in California are answered by The Highway Patrol. Land line calls to 9 1 1 are routed directly to the local police dispatcher. The land line also provides the exact address to the dispatcher.

During the 2016 presidential election it was necessary to call 9 1 1 for an emergency at a polling place. A cell phone was used. The call was answered by The Highway Patrol, probably in a Sacramento call center, 400 miles away. The dispatcher needed a street address before she could transfer the call. None of the poll workers knew the street address only the name of the church where the polling place was located. Fortunately we were able to defuse the situation without the need for the police. We never did get in touch with the police.

I don't know if this type of situation occurs in Australia. The problem here is that very few people understand the subtle difference.

[Chesand]

My understanding is that a 112 call from a mobile tells the location of the phone.

[Handyjack]

One of the problems in Australia is Emergency calls could be answered in a different state than the call. Also many street names and suburbs/towns are in repeated in different states. Eg, Richmond, Maryborough and Emerald. So it is vital that any emergency call, particularly from mobile (cell) phones include the state. Yes, the more of the street address you can give the better, including a cross street of other reference. Some places you may also need to include the best entry point possible.

[ian]

last time I needed to do a "triple 0" the call was answered with the question "which service, Police, Fire, Ambulance?" you are then "attached" to the required service -- I guess the process is akin to the first tick box on a paper form determines the questions asked by the operator.
If you are using a mobile (cell) phone, the cops have the ability to triangulate the phone's location based on which cell towers can "see" the phone.

as a caller you need to be on the ball as to which service should have priority.
Example if you say "police" then it's the cops who will call the ambos (EMS) and fire & rescue. Asking for the police first could involve a critical time delay if people are badly injured or need to be cut free (fire & Rescue responsibility) following a car crash.

[62woollybugger]

In Aus' 112 will connect via any available mobile network if you have no coverage on yours.
There is an app called Emergency+ which will dial triple 0, police help line or SES with one touch on the screen & lists who to call for different things. It also gives your GPS co-ordinates & the address if it can determine it.

[Chris Parks]

I found this interesting, modern technology saves an injured bike rider......

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/...25-p4zhen.html

[ian]

In Aus' 112 will connect via any available mobile network if you have no coverage on yours.

"triple 0" is supposed to work even if you have no SIM card or (for pre-paid) no remaining credit