Making 911 Calls from Landlines, Cells and VoIP

Knowing what type of 911 service you have could save or waste time in a dire emergency. Making 911 calls are easy, but how are they handled with the phone service you have? Keep reading to find out services are preferred.

Making 911 Calls

Making 911 Calls

Basic 911 Service

When you dial 911, your call goes to a call centre and only after you provide a name and location, will you be connected to an emergency response centre in that area. (wasting valuable time)

Enhanced 911 Service

Calls are connected to an emergency response centre and systematically provides phone and location details.

Conventional Wireline phones

Calls are made from fixed addresses and you would receive enhanced service unless basic service is only provided in your area.

Cellular phones

Cells are great to have for safety. We carry them around where ever we go, however they aren’t attached to a fixed address. This makes it more difficult to find an exact location.

Making 911 calls

Basic Wireless

911 service is available in areas that receive Basic 911 service. When a 911 call is made, the carrier connects the call to a 911 call centre that serves the area of the cell phone tower. (wasting valuable time)

Enhanced Wireless 911 Service

911 service is provided in areas that receive Enhanced 911 service so that a location will be identified. Also, that location can easily be found if the person does not know where they are or if they can’t speak. (carriers are required to have enhanced)

The VoIP services you have will determine what 911 service available for emergency calls using VoIP.

Fixed VoIP service

Calls can only be made from a fixed address and have Enhanced 911 service compared to that provided by conventional wireline service.

Nomadic VoIP service

Callers access Basic 911 telephone services using a high-speed Internet connection from any location. There is no fixed address to provide to 911 operators. (wasting valuable time)

If you have an emergency and have to make a 911 call, listen to what the operator says. This will determine if you have enhanced or basic 911 services. (Basic -911 Call Centre Enhanced- Police, Fire and Ambulance)

Do you have a landline, Cellular or VoIP? Are you saving money by using your cellular or VoIP phone instead? Would you rather save money ($15-$20 Basic landline) or be safe in an emergency. If you have a landline you will be safe at home.

If we have Basic 911 service and are paying our provider a fee to use 911 then shouldn’t we have access right to an emergency response centre. We should not be redirected by a call centre rep who is not trained for determining a REAL problem.

For more info check out the CRTC site.

Have you ever had an issue making 911 calls on one of these devices?

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8 Responses to Making 911 Calls from Landlines, Cells and VoIP

  1. mamabear says:

    VOiP service is ALL done through a call centre not an Emergency Response Centre

  2. So interesting. I had no idea. Great information to have in the back of your head. Thanks for the article.
    Crystal @ Sew Creative recently posted…How to Make A Valentine’s Day Wreath That You Can Repurpose For Any Season or HolidayMy Profile

  3. I have never thought of this before, but it is such important information to know! Usually when one calls 911, you expect service to be fast!
    Angie@Echoes of Laughter recently posted…9 Reasons Why Teenagers and Disney Vacations Rock!My Profile

  4. Randa @ TBK says:

    I was told that if I got rid of my landline that we wouldn’t have proper 911 service, I got rid of it anyway. I’m happy that there is an Enhanced option.
    Randa @ TBK recently posted…Monday Funday Linky Party {February 9}My Profile

  5. Stephanie Keeping says:

    This is good to know. I didn’t know some of it. Thanks for sharing.

  6. I’ve often wondered about the differences in making 911 calls from cells versus landlines. Very important information.
    Ann BAcciaglia recently posted…It’s Possible To Go On QuoteMy Profile

    • Mama Bear6910 says:

      I found this out from a friend who works at a 911 call centre and through the CRTC link otherwise I would have never known.

  7. I am a diehard land line person. I would rather have a land line ran not. My in laws have had the same phone number for almost 50 years. Nothing new to remember.
    Margarita Ibbott @DownshiftingPRO recently posted…4M–Margarita’s Manic Monday Minutes Organizing hair accessory drawer #Teens #BathroomMy Profile

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