In an emergency, call 9-1-1

For non-emergency police service in Los Alamitos, call (562) 594-7232

When you call the police, be prepared to give the dispatcher the exact location and nature of the emergency. Tell the dispatcher whether you need police, fire or paramedic service. The 911 number can be used to summon emergency assistance from any of these agencies.

If there are sufficient people at the scene, direct a volunteer, or draft someone to go outside and direct responding emergency personnel to the location. Remember, the responders will probably be familiar with the area and know which hundred block they are responding to, but if someone is there to wave them down, it can save precious seconds. This is especially important in multi-tenant housing areas or business complexes.

After providing the nature and location of the problem, be prepared to provide the following information to the dispatcher.

You will need to provide a description of the situation and when it occurred. You will need to report if anyone is injured. If the incident involves a suspect, you should try to provide a description including race, sex, clothing, hair color, facial hair, eyeglasses, hat, etc. Did the suspect have a weapon? When giving a vehicle description, provide the color, make, model, license number, number of doors and direction of travel.

If the emergency call is for medical aid, be prepared to brief paramedics as they arrive by providing such information as the patient’s age, gender, and nature of the complaint or injury, including pertinent health history if known. If safety permits, open the entry doors and turn on adequate lighting. If there are double doors, open both to facilitate moving in equipment and evacuating the patient. If someone else is in need of paramedic service, tell them assistance has been called. Make the patient as comfortable as possible, and if you are able, loosen tight clothing such as belts and neckties.