State Police Remind the Public to DIAL 911 for All Emergencies in Massachusetts
State Police Remind the Public to DIAL 911 for All Emergencies in Massachusetts
In February 2005, the Massachusetts State Police, with the assistance of the Massachusetts Highway Department and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, began removing all highway signs that directed motorists seeking emergency assistance to dial "*SP" and "*MSP" and replaced them with new " EMERGENCY DIAL 911" signs. The State Police also issued numerous media releases advising the public to DIAL "911" for all roadside emergencies.
Dialing "911" is essential to ensuring a prompt emergency response from police, fire or EMS personnel. When "911" is dialed from a wireless telephone, State Police dispatchers receive information such as caller ID and cellular provider; this information may also include the approximate location from which the call for service was placed. By providing such information, dialing "911" enables a quicker response of emergency services to the location it is needed. The *SP system does not provide all of this pertinent information. In fact, dialing "*SP" & "*MSP" may delay emergency services because "911" calls are placed on a higher call priority.
Beginning in 1986 motorists in eastern Massachusetts were encouraged to dial "*SP" and motorists in western Massachusetts were encouraged to dial "*MSP" when requesting emergency services. The technological transition to Wireless Enhanced 911 has made these systems obsolete.
As a result, the Massachusetts State Police are once again reminding the public to DIAL "911" for all emergencies in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Highway Department and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority have been assisting and will continue to assist the State Police with its public education efforts by displaying messages on their computer message boards along state highways reminding motorists to DIAL 911 for all emergencies in Massachusetts.
Remember,
Dialing 911 saves seconds and seconds can save lives.
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Dial 911 on your Phone for all Emergencies in Massachusetts