Enhanced 9-1-1

The Eau Claire Emergency Communications Center utilizes Enhanced 9-1-1 service for every household within Eau Claire County. When a call is placed from a land-line phone, this valuable tool identifies the caller's address, name, and telephone number, even if the caller is unable to provide the information.

Cellular (wireless) 911 calls also utilizes enhanced 911 technology. When you call, we receive your approximate location.

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When do I call 9-1-1?

9-1-1 phone lines should be reserved for crimes in progress or actual life threatening situations requiring immediate police, fire, or ambulance services. Once you have determined the situation requires immediate action to preserve life or property, dial 9-1-1.

Call 9-1-1

• To get help for someone who is hurt
• If you see property being destroyed or taken
• If you smell smoke or see fire
• If you see someone hurting someone else

Never call 9-1-1 as a joke, to ask for information, or just to see if it works.

If you require assistance but not immediate actions, please dial the non-emergency line for Eau Claire County 715-839-4972.

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Seven Seconds to Safety

Once you have dialed 9-1-1, you will hear up to SEVEN SECONDS OF SILENCE as the phone company routes the call to the Eau Claire Emergency Center. The seven seconds is unavoidable due to the phone company's routing equipment. Even though you do not hear anything for about seven seconds, your call is being sent. Thus, the best thing to do is to make one call and stay on the line until the telecommunicator answers. The seven seconds does seem like a long time when someone is injured or in harms way. However if you hang-up to dial again, you will be adding another seven seconds for the second call.

Listen to Telecommunicator:
When dialing 9-1-1, you may be asked several questions, even when calling for an ambulance. Once the telecommunicator has enough information, the appropriate emergency units will be dispatched.

The telecommunicators use the Emergency Medical Dispatch System (EMD) to determine what level of response is needed for the ambulance. This involves asking specific pre-scripted questions in a specific order. The information gathered is relayed to responding personnel so they are better prepared to handle your emergency.

When Seconds Count:
Post your address near the phone. In an emergency, this will assist the caller in quickly providing the correct address.

Whether you live in the City or the County of Eau Claire your address should be visible from the street so responding units can easily locate you. The U.S. Postal Office requires your street address to be ON curbside mailboxes.