Eielson residents reminded of 9-1-1 procedures Published April 23, 2012 By Master Sgt. Mark Johnson 354th Civil Engineer Squadron EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- We have all heard that if you have an emergency you should dial 9-1-1. However, the Eielson Air Force Base Fire Emergency Service Flight has noticed a recent trend of emergencies being called in to the administration line or the Security Forces administration line. Although it is important to get a hold of emergency services any way possible, dialing 9-1-1 will ensure emergency responders arrive sooner. The Eielson Fire Emergency Services Dispatch Center is equipped with an enhanced 9-1-1 system from all 377 and 372 prefixes, allowing the system to populate the caller's location on a map as soon as the dispatcher answers the call. This allows emergency vehicles to be dispatched even without all the information. If an individual calls the fire department on an administration line, the dispatcher must take down the caller's address, and the nature and location of the emergency. The dispatcher, hoping that he or she received all the information correctly, must then relay that information to responding personnel. This may not seem like it will take a lot of time, but during any emergency time is of the essence. Base residents must also understand the process when dialing 9-1-1 from a cell phone. If 9-1-1 is dialed with a cell phone from on base, the call will be answered by Central Dispatch in Fairbanks. The caller must say that they need Eielson 9-1-1 or Eielson dispatch, or that they are calling from the base, and the dispatcher, via a direct line, will patch the call through to the Eielson dispatch center immediately. The Eielson Fire Department would like everyone to have a wonderful and safe summer season here in Alaska. However, if the unfortunate happens, and there is an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.