IF THERE’S AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911

In response to recent, local emergency situations not called in to 911 and instead directed to local, first responder cell phones or social media accounts, the Jerauld County Sheriff’s Office, Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department (WSVFD), Alpena Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) and Jerauld County Ambulance urge the community not to be reluctant to call 911 in case of an emergency.

If not sure whether the situation is a true emergency, emergency personnel recommend calling 911 and letting the call-taker determine whether you need help. Calling 911 is free of charge and the most efficient way to deal with an emergency situation.

“The 911 system is structured to dispatch the proper emergency personnel for the situation,” said Jerauld County Sheriff Jason Weber. “With most emergencies, response time is key for a positive outcome and the 911 dispatch system – not first responder cell phones – is the most efficient way to handle an emergency.”

An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department or ambulance. Examples include:

• A fire

• A crime, especially if in progress

• A car crash, especially if someone is injured

• A medical emergency, such as someone who is unconscious, gasping for air or not breathing, experiencing an allergic reaction, having chest pain, having uncontrollable bleeding, or any other symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

Weber, along with WSVFD fire chief Jim Vavra and AVFD fire chief Ryder Schweitzer said that an alarming number of emergency, as well as nonemergent calls, have been made recently to sheriff and fire department personnel cell phones or sent as messages to personal social media accounts – which could potentially lead to disaster.

“When community members call law enforcement or fire personnel directly instead of calling 911, they take a gamble that the emergency responder they’re trying to reach is off duty, out of range or even out of town,” Weber said. “A call to 911 is the safest, most efficient way to handle an emergency situation and dispatch the appropriate emergency personnel.”

Officials also remind community members that when calling 911, be prepared to answer the call-taker’s questions, which may include:

• The location of the emergency, including the street address

• The nature of the emergency

• Details about the emergency, such as a physical description of a person who may have committed a crime, a description of any fire that may be burning, or a description of injuries or symptoms being experienced by a person having a medical emergency.

Officials point out that nonemergency situations that call for first responders may also arise.

What is a “non-emergency” and what number do I dial?

In the case of a non-emergency situation that doesn’t pertain to a life-threatening circumstance, residents are encouraged to call the Jerauld County Sheriff's Office. A non-emergency could be a loud music complaint, a barking dog, a suspicious person, a property damage accident, vandalism (when suspect is gone) or cars blocking the street or alleys. The number to dial in a non-emergency is (605)-539-1311.

“Living in small communities, we understand that people want to call who they know but unfortunately, that could mean the difference of life or death,” said Jim Vavra, WSVFD Chief. “Whether it’s an emergency or a non-emergency, if you’re in doubt where to call, call 911.”