911

Mission

The mission of the Kootenai County 9-1-1 Center is to serve as the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the County and central dispatching center for its emergency response agencies

Purpose

The purpose of the Center is to provide a central location whereby emergency calls for assistance from the citizens of and visitors to Kootenai County may be answered by skilled Call Takers in a prompt, compassionate, and courteous manner. It also provides the primary dispatch facility for all fire, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and most law enforcement agencies in the County.

Commitment

The Kootenai County 9-1-1 Center is committed to provide the highest quality emergency response service possible to its citizens, as well as visitors to the County. The 9-1-1 Center will also continue to help protect and ensure the safety of all dispatched law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel so that they may return home safely to their families.

History

The origin of 9-1-1 can be traced back to England when it was the first country to use a national three digit emergency number. In 1937, citizens of England simply dialed 9-9-9 to contact emergency service personnel. Some 20 years later in 1958, the International Association of Fire Chiefs advocated a national emergency number for the United States. The number 9-1-1 was brought into reality, with the cooperation of American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T), as the nation's emergency notification number in 1968.

The Kootenai County 9-1-1 Center, also known as Central Dispatch, opened in February 1993. The 9-1-1 Center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is responsible for answering all 9-1-1 emergency and after hours non-emergency (except Post Falls and Rathdrum) calls for Kootenai County. Central Dispatch is responsible for dispatching all Fire and EMS agencies, selected specialized and State agencies, and all law enforcement agencies in the County, with the exception of Post Falls and Rathdrum Police Departments. Central Dispatch was the first in Northern Idaho to implement Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD). The Call Taker/Dispatcher's are specially trained to provide callers with life saving instructions on various types of medical emergencies, including control of bleeding, delivering a baby and how to administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on patients ranging from infant through adult ages. The Center's staff consists of three administrative personnel, and 30 highly skilled Call Taker/Dispatchers.

Using 9-1-1

When calling the Kootenai County 9-1-1 Center, a trained Call Taker/Dispatcher will receive your call and offer immediate assistance. The Call Taker/Dispatcher will ask pertinent questions regarding the emergency and dispatch the appropriate level of law enforcement, fire, and/or medical service to meet your immediate need.