Emergency Services in Chicago
Thanks to excellent police, fire and medical services, Chicago visitors are in excellent hands.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, CALL 911
Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by dialing 911 on any cell phone or landline, including free calls on pay phones. In seconds, you will be connected to a highly trained professional who will dispatch the police, fire and medical services you need. The 911 service offers interpretation for more than 140 languages and dialects.
Calling from a landline allows the operator to instantly see your location on an automated map. If you call from a cell phone, it is important to give a detailed description of your location. Providing a street address, nearest intersection, or major landmark ensures the fastest assistance possible. Don’t hang up the phone until the 911 operator tells you to and remain at the scene of an emergency unless it is unsafe.
Questions the operator may ask:
- What happened?
- Where are you?
- Who needs help?
- Who is with you?
- Are you safe where you are?
Dial 311 for Non-Emergency Problems
For emergencies only, 911 operators take every call very seriously. If you need police assistance for a non-emergency, dial 311 from any phone. The 311 staff can answer questions about Chicago and report non-emergency problems.
Examples of when to call 911
- Car accident
- Serious injury
- Fire
- Reporting a crime while it is occurring
Examples of when to call 311
- Information on local events and city departments
- Locating homeless shelters
- Animal control
- Reporting a crime after it has occurred
Hospitals in Chicago
If you experience or witness a life-threatening injury or serious condition (such as a heart attack, broken bones or an unresponsive victim), dial 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance. For other conditions, illnesses, or minor injuries requiring a doctor’s care, visit http://www.chicagolandyp.com/hospitals.html for a complete list of hospitals in the Chicago area.
Emergency Services for International Visitors
If you have questions about applying for a U.S. Visa or are having problems with your current Visa, visit http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/ for more information.
If you need to get in touch with your country’s consulate, visit http://www.globalchicago.org/consul/ for detailed contact information and a complete list of Chicago offices.
To learn more about how to avoid problems entering and exiting the country, visit http://www.cbp.gov/. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that protects U.S. borders at and between the official ports of entry.
