Can You Call 911 for Someone in Another State?

If you're in California and chatting with your Aunt Sally in Colorado when she suddenly complains of chest pains, you should call the 10-digit emergency services number in her area. You can find the 10-digit number of the locale's designated emergency dispatch center on the local law enforcement agency’s website or by calling the police department in the specific town.

When you call 911 for a loved one in a different state, the call you make goes to your "local" emergency dispatch center. The dispatcher will locate the right emergency dispatch center the same way you would.

This article discusses how to make an emergency call for someone in another state, as well as how 911 works and ways to get a faster 911 response.

How 911 Works

Emergency dispatch centers, referred to as public service answering points (PSAPs), are responsible for answering 911 calls and tending to the needs of those in their designated areas.

If you are calling 911 for a loved one in a different state, the call you make goes to your "local" PSAP. 911 knows what state you're in because the nearest cell tower picks up the signal from your call.

The dispatcher who answers will likely try to help, but there is no guarantee that they will be able to do so effectively.

When you call 911, the call is automatically routed from a regional control center to the PSAP that handles calls in your specific geographical area.

When your call goes through, the dispatcher who answers is likely sitting in the same room as an intermediary who is communicating directly with local paramedics, firefighters, or law enforcement officers. In some cases, the dispatcher may be the only link between you and the local response team.

Calling 911 by sending a text message is becoming more available across the United States, but is not available in all communities. If you need emergency assistance, a voice call remains the best way to reach 911 if you can, and text if you can’t.

Can 911 Transfer Your Call to Another Area?

The 911 dispatcher in your area likely can’t simply “patch you through” to the correct PSAP in the other location. There is currently no intrastate system that works that way. Instead, the dispatcher will use the same tools that you do to find phone numbers in other states: the internet or telephone companies.

The dispatcher will:

• Ask which county and town your loved one lives in
• Locate the 10-digit phone number for that PSAP
• Transfer the call to connect you with the team who can help

Even though the local dispatcher may work as fast as possible, it may feel very long to you. As stressful as this can be, try to remain calm and patient, even if they have to place you on hold.

Many PSAPs—especially those in large urban centers—have standard operating procedures for handling calls like these. In the end, they are more likely to get you connected faster if you cooperate with them.

One thing 911 centers have that you don't have is a working relationship with telephone companies. This usually results in better cooperation and speedier transfers.

5 Tips for Faster 911 Response

If you find yourself having to call 911 for someone in a different city or state, there are five things you can do to get a faster response:

Plan Ahead

If you are concerned about a loved one in another city or state, call the police department in the town where they are and get the 10-digit number of their designated PSAP before there is an emergency. The PSAP number can also be found on the local law enforcement agency’s website.

If an emergency arises, call the 10-digit number instead of 911. It will connect you directly and enable a more immediate response. Be sure to have all of your loved one's information on hand, such as:

• Age
• Exact address, including zip code
• Phone numbers
• Entry security codes

Don't Hang Up on Your Loved One

If you have Aunt Sally on the phone, and there's another phone available, don't tell Aunt Sally that you'll call her back. Keep Aunt Sally on the line, inform her of what's going on, and keep tabs on how she is doing.

Staying connected also allows you to get information about her location rather than having to look it up yourself. You can also pass on first aid information from the local 911 office while you are waiting to be transferred.

Know Where the Emergency Is Happening

The 911 dispatcher will be able to work faster if you provide the address of your loved one—including the city, state, and zip code—along with their telephone number(s). As simple as this may seem, people will often go blank during an emergency.

If Aunt Sally is unable to provide you with her address (and you don't have it yourself), don't panic. The 911 dispatcher still may be able to trace it using a database called the Automatic Number Identification/Automatic Location Identifier (ANI/ALI).  

Call 911 From a Cell Phone

Some PSAPs have the ability to break into existing conversations through a cell phone line, effectively patching them through directly to Aunt Sally. If Aunt Sally is on a cell phone, they may even be able to locate her to within 50 to 300 yards, depending on the system being used by the wireless provider.

Many, but not all, PSAPs have upgraded their wire capabilities to facilitate this in accordance with requirements from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Use the 911 Anywhere App

Consider learning more about the 911 Anywhere app for smartphones. With a paid subscription you can enter a distant address anywhere in the U.S. and find the 911 agency or other designated emergency dispatch agency covering that location.

You can also create a list of contacts in advance with exact locations to access if needed in the future.

Summary

No one can plan for every emergency, and it's not uncommon to be caught off guard when a loved one calls in distress over the phone. In such instances, it is important to remain as clear and calm as you can when you call 911.

If the dispatcher is overrun with calls (as can sometimes happen), they will be less able to set aside the time to help if you do not communicate the matter clearly, including the nature of the emergency and the age and general health of your loved one.

By helping the dispatcher fully understand the urgency of the situation, they can prioritize your call even if the emergency is not in their location.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. North Central Texas Emergency Communications District. How does location work for 911?
2. National 911 Program. Frequently asked questions. In: 911.gov.
3. Goebel M, Dameff C, Tully J. Hacking 9-1-1: Infrastructure vulnerabilities and attack vectors. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21(7):e14383. doi:10.2196/14383
4. Federal Communications Commission. Indoor location accuracy benchmarks.
5. 911 Anywhere. How it works.

By Rod Brouhard, EMT-P
Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients.

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