Spiral SearchHow to Describe Someone's Medical Condition Accurately to a 911 Dispatcher
Say what you see, hear and know, not what you think the diagnosis is. A short script that gives responders the facts they need.
General information, not medical advice. Reading a guide is not a substitute for a hands-on first aid or CPR class (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and local fire-rescue departments offer them). If someone may be in danger, call 911 and follow the dispatcher.
A dispatcher cannot see the patient. They rely on your words to send the right help and to choose the right instructions. Accurate, plain facts beat medical guesses.
Describe, do not diagnose
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| “He's having a heart attack.” | “He's 62, he has chest pressure, he's sweating and gray, and he's short of breath. It started 15 minutes ago.” |
| “She's diabetic and crashing.” | “She is confused and sweaty. Her sister says she has diabetes and took insulin this morning.” |
| “I think it's a stroke.” | “His face is drooping on the left, his speech is slurred, and he can't lift his right arm. It started at 2:10 pm.” |
| “She's dead.” | “She's not responding and I don't see her breathing. I'm starting CPR as you tell me.” |
The facts to have ready
- Age and sex (or an estimate, such as “about 70”).
- Main problem in a few words, and when it started.
- Awake? Does the person open their eyes, answer, or respond only to pain?
- Breathing? Normal, fast, noisy, gasping, or not at all.
- Bleeding? Where, how much, and whether it is spurting or soaking through.
- Color and skin: pale, blue-gray, flushed, sweaty, hot or cold.
- Known conditions, medications and allergies, if you know them. If you do not know, say so.
- What happened: a fall (from how high?), a crash, something eaten, a bite, exposure to heat or cold, a drug or alcohol.
Useful, measurable details
Numbers are better than adjectives. “She has taken about 8 breaths in the last 30 seconds” is more useful than “she's breathing weird.” If you have a pulse oximeter or thermometer, give the reading, but do not delay calling to find one.
If you are not sure
Say so: “I'm not sure if he's breathing.” The dispatcher will talk you through checking. Stay on the line, do what they say, and tell them right away if anything changes.
See also: How to communicate with a 911 dispatcher.