Daytona Beach, Fla. — Public safety communications association, APCO International, provided information for a segment on The Dr. Oz Show, “The Three Biggest Mistakes you Should Never Make When Calling 9-1-1.” The episode aired March 11, 2011 around the country.

Daytime Emmy Award winner Dr. Mehmet Oz hosts “The Dr. Oz Show.” APCO International’s Board of Directors Representative, Gigi Smith, shared her expertise on pertinent tips to keep in mind when calling 9-1-1.

Smith reported the most important things to remember when calling 9-1-1 are: 

• Do not hang up if you get a recording.
• If you have the choice of a landline or cell phone – choose the landline.
• Stay calm.

Smith and Dr. Oz also discussed the three biggest mistakes made during an emergency situation:

• Forgetting your contact information is easy. Dr. Oz created an emergency chart to hang on the fridge or near the phone during an emergency.
• Not listening to the dispatcher and not answering the questions. Dispatchers are trained to ask questions in a particular order. Answers help determine the type of equipment needed and how quickly help may arrive.
• Hanging up too quickly. It is important to stay on the line for pre-arrival information and to ensure the correct data is being relayed to the responders.

“It was great to have the opportunity to help people get through emergency situations more effectively on a powerful forum like the Dr. Oz Show,” said Smith.

For more information about this and other public safety related topics, visit www.apcointl.org.

Mark your calendars for 9-1-1 Education Month and National Public Safety Telecommunications week coming in April. See www.e911institute.org and http://npstw.com/ for more information.

About APCO International
APCO International is the world’s largest organization of public safety communications professionals. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide — and the welfare of the general public as a whole — by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.  www.apcointl.org