What to do
Stay on the phone
When you call 911, even if by mistake, do not hang up early. Stay on the phone so you can talk with us.
If you hang up early, we may send the police or fire department even if you don’t need them. This makes it harder for everyone to get emergency help when they really need it.
Tell us your language
Immediately tell us the language or dialect you speak so we can quickly connect you to an interpreter.
We can connect you to an interpreter service that can translate over 170 languages.
Answer all our questions
In an emergency, we need to know:
- Where the emergency is
- What is happening
- Who is involved
- If there is a weapon
- If anyone is injured
Your answers help us send the right kind of help. They also help keep responders safe when they arrive.
You must give your location when calling from a cell phone
When you call from a cell phone, we do not know where you are calling from. You must give us the location.
Do not hang up
We may need to get more information from you, even after we have sent help.
We may be asking a lot of questions as help is on the way. Do not hang up.
Speech or hearing impaired
If you use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TTY), call 9-1-1 or 553-8090.
Once connected, you can tap the spacebar on the TTY spacebar every few seconds. This lets us know through tones that you are calling from a TTY device. But it is not a requirement to do this.
Send a text
If you can't call, send us a text.
We can't receive pictures or video yet.
We'll ask you the same questions we ask on the phone.
Get help
Phone
For city services, including to report crimes not in progress
If you are not in San Francisco
Call this number to reach 911 in San Francisco; for example, if you are on the phone with someone in SF who has an emergency.
Last updated November 9, 2022