About the 911 Center
Chester County 9-1-1 opened its doors, phones and radios to the public on September 11TH 1996. A lot has changed in the last seventeen years but some things have remained the same. Chester County 9-1-1 continues its dedication to serve the citizens of Chester County with the pride and professionalism they have come to expect.
The 9-1-1 Center acts as the first point of contact for all Emergency Responders in Chester County, from your local fire departments and EMS units to the Chester County Sheriff’s Office and other local police departments. Receiving more than six thousand (6,000) emergency and non-emergency phone calls every month in 2011, each phone call brings its own unique challenges both to the caller and call taker.
The 9-1-1 Center is staffed by a minimum of three dispatchers twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. These dispatchers are on duty to insure that the citizens of Chester County receive a consistent level of service.
In addition to incoming phone calls, the 9-1-1 Center dispatches fourteen local fire departments, four ambulance locations, two rescue squads, the Great Falls Police Department, the Fort Lawn Police Department, the Chester City Police Department and Chester County Sheriff’s office along with Animal Control. The responsibility for making sure that these responders have the information they need lies first with the 9-1-1 call taker and radio dispatchers.
WHEN TO CALL 911
In an emergency (when you believe that the immediate response of the police, a fire truck or an ambulance is needed).
Some examples of when to call 9-1-1:
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When you see fire or smoke.
When you see fire or smoke. •When you or someone with you is in danger.
When you or someone with you is in danger. •When you see a crime is being committed or has just occurred.
When you see a crime is being committed or has just occurred. •When you believe that an ambulance is needed because someone is hurt or sick.
When you believe that an ambulance is needed because someone is hurt or sick. •When someone is trying to get in your house.
When someone is trying to get in your house. •When someone suspicious is prowling around your house or neighbors house.
When someone suspicious is prowling around your house or neighbors house. •When a child is approached by a stranger.
When a child is approached by a stranger. WHEN NOT TO CALL 911
Some examples of when not to call 9-1-1:
•To obtain weather reports.
To obtain weather reports. •To report utility problems (such as power outages, phone and water repairs
To report utility problems (such as power outages, phone and water repairs •To ask for directions or road names.
To ask for directions or road names. •For general information pertaining to police reports, jails.
For general information pertaining to police reports, jails. •Keys locked in vehicles, unless someone is locked inside.
Keys locked in vehicles, unless someone is locked inside. •To request a cab.
To request a cab. •To find out what time the parade begins.
To find out what time the parade begins. REMEMBER...9-1-1 is to be used for emergencies (when you believe that the immediate response of the police, a fire truck or an ambulance is needed).
WHO CAN CALL 911
Anyone can call 9-1-1, no matter how old you are. There have been children on that have helped their parents and they were only 3 years old!
The sight-impaired can use the digits, 9-1-1 on the telephone.
The hearing and speech impaired can use a special phone called a TTY/TDD machine to access 9-1-1.
HOW TO CALL 911
•To call 9-1-1 from a home phone or a simple business phone, pick up the phone and press the numbers, 9-1-1.
To call 9-1-1 from a home phone or a simple business phone, pick up the phone and press the numbers, 9-1-1. •To call 9-1-1 from a Centrex or PBX business extension, obtain an outside line and then press the numbers, 9-1-1.
To call 9-1-1 from a Centrex or PBX business extension, obtain an outside line and then press the numbers, 9-1-1. •To call 9-1-1 from a pay phone, no money is needed, simply pick up the receiver and press the numbers 9-1-1.
To call 9-1-1 from a pay phone, no money is needed, simply pick up the receiver and press the numbers 9-1-1. •To call 9-1-1 from a cellular phone or mobile phone, press the numbers 9-1-1 and press the "send" or "snd" button (this button is usually green). Be prepared to give your cell phone number and your location.
To call 9-1-1 from a cellular phone or mobile phone, press the numbers 9-1-1 and press the "send" or "snd" button (this button is usually green). Be prepared to give your cell phone number and your location. 
