When a person is suffering a severe injury or sudden illness, dialing 911 allows for direct access to a county dispatch center.
Some dispatchers also offer basic care instructions to the caller.
Early access to the emergency system allows a faster response by emergency personnel. First Responder A first responder is a person trained to provide initial care for patients. The role of the first responder is to assess the patient, provide basic life support such as CPR, automated external defibrillation, bleeding and shock management, and splinting. A first responder may be a police officer, firefighter or a local community member. Upon arrival the paramedics begin an assessment of the patient that involves the ABC's - airway, breathing and circulation.