When you dial 9-1-1 in Arlington Heights, you are connected with the Northwest Central Dispatch System, located in the Village, which dispatches fire and police personnel and equipment in response to calls. When dialing 9-1-1, people often encounter a delay of several seconds before they hear the phone ringing at the dispatch center. This silence is not indicative of a problem but is a normal component of the 9-1-1 system called "setup time." It is important to remain on the line and not cause an additional delay in getting help by hanging up and redialing.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you, or someone you are with, experiences difficulty breathing; pain or pressure in the chest or upper abdomen which can include: pressure, fullness, squeezing sensation or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms or back, chest pain accompanied by dizziness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath; fainting; sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision; change in mental status (confusion, unusual behavior); sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body; uncontrolled bleeding; severe or persistent vomiting; coughing up or vomiting blood; and/or suicidal feelings.
If these, or other severe symptoms present themselves, dial 9-1-1. The dispatcher will ask pertinent questions to ascertain the specific nature of the problem and help provide appropriate intervention until the Paramedics arrive. Do not hang up until the dispatcher instructs you to do so.