Caddo Parish 911 Facts

Facts

FACT: The Caddo Parish 9-1-1 District has an "Enhanced 9-1-1 System", which provides immediate information containing the caller's name, address, and telephone number. If you hang up, the Communications Officer will call back!

FACT:If the Communications Officer receives a "9-1-1" call and no one is on the phone (either the phone is an "open line" or the caller hangs up), the Communications Officer will attempt to call the telephone number back to determine if there is an emergency. If no answer is received, the closest available law enforcement agency will be dispatched to investigate the call.

FACT: All "9-1-1" calls are recorded. To obtain a copy of a tape from an incident or a 9-1-1 call, you must contact the City Attorney's Office (318-673-5200) or the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office Attorney - Mr. Gary Parker (318-681-0820). The 9-1-1 District staff cannot authorize or release voice recordings of 9-1-1calls.

FACT: If your call is related to a medical emergency, you may be asked to perform lifesaving first aid techniques while help is on the way. The telecommunicators who answer and respond to citizens' calls for emergency assistance have been certified in Emergency Medical Dispatch based upon APCO's criteria. This requires a prerequisite of CPR and Basic Telecommunicator certifications, or a total of 80 hours of training. Remember, all of the questions are important and determine what type of assistance may be needed.

FACT: While one communications officer is asking you questions and providing you with instructions, such as lifesaving first aid techniques or where to go for safety, another communications officer has already been notified of the address and is dispatching equipment and emergency personnel to your location. Any further information obtained by your answers is then provided to the emergency personnel in their vehicle as they approach the site of the emergency, making them better prepared to handle the situation once they arrive on the scene.

FACT: There are no "dumb" or "unnecessary" questions! Please stay calm and answer any question the communications officer may ask of you. It could save a life -- maybe even yours!