From Chicago’s Office Of Emergency Management And Communications

If you have ever wondered whether you should dial 911 or 311, you are not alone. Here are some guidelines from the City of Chicago OEMC, to help you determine whether a situation calls for one or the other:

9-1-1 EMERGENCY SERVICES

Call 9-1-1 when a situation requires immediate police, fire, or emergency medical response.

FOR POLICE SERVICES:
•When there is a crime in progress
•When there is an immediate threat to life or bodily injury
•When there is major property damage or loss due to criminal activity
•When there is suspicious activity
•When there is observed behavior that could indicate terrorism or terrorism related crime
•Unusual items or situations: out of the ordinary situations

FOR FIRE SERVICES:
•To report a fire
•To report hazardous material incidents
•To initiate the rescue of a trapped person

FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES:
•To report life threatening medical emergencies that require an ambulance including:
heart attacks, asthma attacks, automobile accidents with injuries, etc.

As always, if there is an immediate threat, call 9-1-1.

3-1-1 CITY SERVICES

Call 3-1-1 to request City Services and to report situations not requiring a police response. Download the CHI311 or go to 311.Chicago.gov to create a city service request, search pending request, or track a previously made request.

FOR CITY SERVICES:
•To request services, report problems, or check the status of a service request:
garbage collection, potholes, street lights, etc.
•To get information about special events and neighborhood festivals
•To find out the date and location of a CAPS beat meeting

FOR NON-EMERGENCY POLICE SERVICES:
•To report a situation that does not pose an immediate threat to life, bodily injury, major property damage or loss
•To file a police report in which the offender is no longer on the scene
•To report a situation that does not require an immediate police response including but not limited to pick-pocketing, lewd or obscene phone calls, animal bites, or residential garage burglaries

Here is quick guide to “Making The Right Call”: