Richmond’s Department of Emergency Communications has a new method for emergency response.
DEC went live with a new protocol system for 911 calls yesterday at 10 a.m.
Here’s what to expect if you have to make an emergency call.
911 call-takers will follow a decision tree with questions about the specific situation. This means you may be on the phone for longer — but this won’t slow down response time.
Responders will already be en-route and can receive information from call-takers before they arrive. Callers also get consistent, clear instructions on what to do in the meantime.
DEC says the new system follows nationally-recognized standards for emergency response.