Fire and emergency reporting tips Published May 14, 2014 By Timothy Johnson Edwards AFB Fire and Emergency Services EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Knowing when and how to call for HELP is important to minimize the destruction of property, to prevent serious injury, or the saving of a life. Being informed with the correct emergency reporting number is critical in alerting emergency response personnel and allowing them to provide prompt service as quickly as possible. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the Edwards Fire Department, 412th Security Forces Squadron, or ambulance. Examples include: Any fire; even if you have extinguished it Any crime Any medical emergency, such as someone who is unconscious, gasping for air or not breathing, experiencing an allergic reaction, having chest pain, having uncontrollable bleeding, or any other symptoms that require immediate medical attention If you're not sure whether the situation is a true emergency, call 911 and let the Emergency Communication Dispatcher determine whether you need emergency help. When you call 911, be prepared to answer the dispatcher'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 dispatcher's questions are important to get the right kind of help to you quickly. Be prepared to follow any instructions you receive. The Emergency Communications Center can tell you exactly what to do to help in an emergency until help arrives. Finally, DO NOT hang up until you are instructed to do so. If you dial 911 by mistake, or if a child in your home dials 911 when no emergency exists, do not hang up. That could make ECC think that an emergency exists and possibly send responders to your location. Instead, simply explain to the dispatcher what happened. Edwards Air Force Base Fire Protection Division wants everyone to know that the use of your telephones whether they are of home use, office use, or portable use, WILL make a difference in how quickly the ECC can receive and initiate an emergency response from our experienced base emergency responders. When reporting an emergency, be it a fire, medical, or security police, you can dial 911 from a telephone located within any facility on Edwards AFB and this includes base family housing. If you are using a cellular phone, no matter which cell phone service provider you have, dial 911. Please pay special attention to this difference in notification. When dialing 911 on your cell phone your call will be routed to California Highway Patrol Dispatch. Immediately give your location of Edwards AFB and your call will be transferred to EAFB Emergency Communications Center. Ensure that you immediately state that you are located on Edwards AFB and need to be transferred or your call could be delayed, which in turn could delay responders to your location. Remember emergencies require speed, and immediate attention is the pinnacle of importance in preventing disastrous, irreversible, and in some instances deathly results. Knowing the correct emergency reporting number is necessary to ensuring the safety of our homes, work facilities, and most of all the people that enjoy this wonderful Edwards Air Force Base community. Fire and emergency safety is and always will be #1. *Edwards Facility & Family Housing - 911 *Cellular Phone - (661) 277-4540/4541 and state "This is an emergency" or dial 911 and state your location is on Edwards AFB.