9-1-1

The Gravenhurst Volunteer Fire Department

9-1-1in Muskoka

On December 17, 1997, 9-1-1 emergency phone service was switched on for the first time in Muskoka. Now all Muskoka residents, including residents of Gravenhurst, can access Police, Fire and Ambulance services through the internationally recognized number 9-1-1.

The Muskoka 9-1-1 service is a little different from what most people have become to expect from television and movies. DIAL 9-1-1 When you need help! Developed by Bell Canada, 9-1-1 service is known as 9-1-1 PERS (Public Emergency Reporting Service). It combines the benefits of one number dialing for emergency services with the capability of providing the dispatcher with location information about where the call is coming from.

The system works like this:

A caller with an emergency dials 9-1-1 from any phone in Muskoka. The call is answered by a call-taker at an one of the Ontario Provincial Police Communications Centers throughout Ontario, who will ask one question, "9-1-1 Emergency, do you require Police, Fire or Ambulance?" Within two seconds after answering the call, the operator's computer screen will display information about the phone where the call is coming from. This information includes the owner of the phone, the address and the emergency services who are responsible for that address. Based upon the answer to that question, the 9-1-1 operator will transfer the call to the appropriate agency responsible for the address. A dispatcher for the emergency agency contacted will then answer the call and will collect the information so that an emergency response can take place. As with the first operator, a few seconds after answering the call, the same screen information will appear on the dispatcher's console. Remember to use 9-1-1 to Save A Life, Report A Fire or Report A Crime. For other calls use the numbers listed for the emergency service in your phone directory.

It is important to remember that when the 9-1-1 operator asks which emergency service you need, that you ask for the emergency service that is needed most. If the other services will also be required, the dispatcher will connect you to them in turn. In this way the help that is needed first, will be called first, and will arrive first.

Getting the call through to the appropriate dispatcher is only part of the job. You need to know your correct municipal address so that it can be confirmed by the dispatcher and the help will be sent to the correct address. And the emergency responders need to be able to see your municipal address sign clearly from the road if they are going to be able to find your house quickly.

What Can I Do To Help?

Here's an ugly truth. Muskoka 9-1-1 will not save anyone's life. It is an easily identifiable phone number for you to call to get help. But nothing will be gained if you do not help yourselves first. Emergency help will not arrive fast unless they can find you. If you are on the waterfront or in the rural area, your property has a "civic" address. It is this address which gets emergency help to your door when you call 9-1-1. The Police, Fire or Ambulance find your house by looking for a civic address sign on your property.

Every property in Muskoka has a civic address. You can find it on your tax bill or give the Gravenhurst Town Office a call at 705-687-3412.

Your standard "blue and white" fluorescent address sign is what emergency responders are trained to look for when responding to an emergency. Remember that these signs are mandatory. If you don't have one up now, you can expect a visit from the Town to have one installed and the costs added to you property tax bill.

You can get your civic address sign at any of the following stores for $9.99 (one-sided) or $19.99 (two-sided).

Chamberlain Homecare, 1092 Chamberlain Dr., 687-4007

Gravenhurst Home Hardware, 1170 Muskoka Rd., 687-3479

Muskoka Signs, 120 Progress Dr., 687-6222

HOW TO INSTALL SIGNS

If the ambulance could be coming from either direction, put up a two-sided sign. If you are on a dead-end, one-sided is fine.

Mount the sign perpendicular to the road. (NOT PARALLEL)

Put the sign at the end of your driveway. Only if your house is within 40' and CLEARLY VISIBLE from the road IN THE DARK you can consider putting the sign on your house or garage.

Mount the sign about 4' above the level of the road.

Put it back about 3' from the SHOULDER of the road. Keep it away from snow ploughs and out from under branches. Keep it clear of snow.
If you live on a private road, put your sign individually at the end of your driveway. DO NOT group all the signs on your road together at the end of your road. This will DELAY the emergency vehicles from finding your house.
Do not hang it on a chain or a rope. A metal sign post is recommended, but a wooden post is fine.
If your property is water access only, mount the sign on or near your dock, clearly visible from the lake.

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Site designed and maintained by John Black and David Eidsness
Last modified: January 01, 2008