Call 911 during emergencies Published Nov. 20, 2006 By Norman Yeingst and Capt. Brandon Shade Vance Fire Department and 71st Security Forces Squadron Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- Several instances in the last few months have led us to believe not many people remember to call 911 in an emergency. There were fires and emergency medical calls that were not called in as required. The Vance Fire Department has people on duty every day to provide state-of-the-art service to you, our customers. They make approximately 200 to 300 responses per month and work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The firefighters have met or exceeded certifications and qualifications ranging from a large array of training and different disciplines. Every month these professionals attend or participate in anywhere from 500 to 1,000 hours of training. The fire department is willing to respond at a moment's notice and risk their lives, if necessary, to provide you with the service you demand from them. We go into places you are running out of to protect life, property and the environment. No matter how small you think your problem is, we are ready and willing to respond to any emergency or request for help. Our crews are prepared to respond to all emergencies, even the "cat in the tree." The best response we have is one where no one is hurt, there's no property loss or environmental impact. We are here for your safety or to make things safe for you. We are dedicated to duty and serving our customers and the public in general. Many of you may remember the days of the security police. Some may even remember the air police. While our name has changed over the years to security forces, our role as the base's law enforcement agency has not. We are your police force on base and offer many of the same services and functions as the police downtown. Just like the fire department, the lights are always on; we are ready to respond any time, any day. Some of our responses, such as normal car lock-outs or minor traffic accidents, are not time critical. Other calls are of a much more serious nature and demand immediate action. These include responses to crimes in progress, major traffic accidents and terrorist threats and actions, to name a few. This is where the 911 system comes in. It's a simple number that has been ingrained into most of us, but one some are hesitant to use. This is your way to notify security forces of a situation requiring immediate assistance or intervention. The best way to know if you have a 911-type emergency is to ask yourself this question, "Is there an immediate or potential threat to life and/or property that demands security forces right now?" If you're not sure, call anyway. So when in doubt in an emergency, call 911. A firefighter or defender is only three digits away to help.