Do 911 operators speak other languages?
In an emergency, the last thing you want to hear is, “I can’t understand you.” The reality is emergency dispatchers in the Northwest generally speak one language, English. But in our increasingly polyglot society, some people in distress inevitably can’t communicate in English.
Does 911 have a Spanish line?
Typically, when 911 dispatchers encounter a non-English-speaking caller and no bilingual dispatchers are on staff, dispatchers initiate a “language line,” or a speed-dial button that connects directly to a 911 translation service.
What happens if you call 911 and cant talk?
But what happens if a 911 dispatcher hears nothing but silence? … Still, because some silent calls are true emergencies, 911 dispatchers are trained to follow silent call protocols. That means immediately sending a police officer to the call location—if the caller used a landline.
What to do if you call the police but can’t talk?
When transferred to your local police force, the police call handler will attempt to communicate with you by asking simple yes or no questions. If you are not able to speak, listen carefully to the questions and instructions from the call handler so they can assess your call and arrange help if needed.
How do you call the police when you cant talk?
It is a situation nobody wants to find themselves in, but if you are ever in danger and cannot speak to phone the police, it is still possible to summon help. Calling 999 and coughing or tapping in 55 on the keypad will signal to the call operator that you are in danger, allowing them to send officers to your location.
How do you call the police if you can’t talk?
Silent solution 55 is the name given to the initiative that allows people to call 999 when they aren’t able to speak. The police have been using the system for more than 15 years in order to help operators identify which calls are genuine and which are accidental.