Who Answers When You Dial 9-1-1?

The Oregon legislature may not currently be in session, but that doesn’t mean our work has stopped. There is more than one way to change policy, we also pursue policy change through regulatory processes when possible.

Most people assume when they call 9-1-1 the person who answers will be able to walk them through doing CPR, but that is not guaranteed in Oregon. There is no statewide requirement that ensures all 9-1-1 dispatchers are trained in how to provide CPR instructions over the phone. This process is known as telecommunicator CPR or T-CPR. Dispatchers with the right training can help identify cardiac arrest over the phone and then coach callers with real-time, step-by-step instructions, enabling callers to become lifesavers, while first responders are on their way.

Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency, and what happens in the first few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. A person’s chance of survival falls as much as 10% with every minute that passes without starting CPR, which is why we want dispatchers to be prepared to walk a caller through administering CPR.

We will be in touch as this policy moves, regulatory work can take time.