When you call 911 from a traditional landline (a telephone connected to the lines on the poles) a computer in the dispatch center will show the number and address of the phone you're using.. } Thanks to something called “Enhanced 9-1-1” — used in North America — your location is recorded when you place a call to Emergency call centers rely on cell phone carriers to provide the location of people who dial 911. “Today's cell phone system does not automatically send location data when you dial 911. Simply plug it in between your existing phone and phone jack (as shown in installation diagram) and start blocking outbound (outgoing dialing) to 911. You can help reduce accidental 911 calls by locking your keypad. ]]>, , Avoid Making Accidental Wireless 911 Calls. Finally, the signals from the tower are re… There are long-standing problems with calling 911 from a cell phone. // Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Make sure you communicate the location with as many details as possible. When you dial 911 on a landline, the telephone grid routes the call to the correct dispatch center, where the 911 system tells the dispatcher your address, which helps speed up … When you call 911 from a mobile phone, the call often lands in a regional center. Many places try to get donations of used cell phones to give to people that may need one to call 911 in an emergency but can't afford phone service. // End Column 2 Header National 911 Program. document.write('Help Center ng Consumer'); Additionally, NENA reports that in 2011, there were 146 million 911 calls from mobile phones.. Source(s): Tracfone/Net10 customer for 13 years. Readers outside the U.S. can find their local emergency number HERE. Cellular network carriers in the united states are required by the FCC to connect any call to 911 placed on their network, regardless or wether or not the call is placed from a device which has a current contract and is paid to date. if (languages === "Spanish") { // End Column 3 Header } The FCC estimates that 70 percent of 911 calls are made from cell phones. That means you can use defunct, disconnected or back-up phones to place an emergency call, as long as you’re in a location covered by cell towers. Learn and use the designated number in your state for highway accidents or other non life-threatening incidents. Michael Menna, DO, is board-certified in emergency medicine. Unfortunately, that sense of security is partly an illusion. You may also consider turning off the 911 auto-dial feature if your phone has one. If you call 911 from your mobile phone or the wireless home system, it will be using your mobile contract to make the call. [CDATA[// >,