[D] Help!

LET'S UNLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES 🔐

dispatcher

[ dih-ˈspach-er ]

noun

- a person who sends police or other services where they are needed

The connection ended before the dispatcher could talk to the caller.

landline

[ ˈland-ˌlahyn ]

noun

- a home (wired) telephone

I'll call you later on the landline.

victim

[ ˈvik-tim ]

noun

- someone who is hurt in some way

The victim suffered severe brain damage.

matter of life and death

phrase

- a situation of extreme importance

Fulfilling orders on time is a matter of life and death for a small company.

hang up

phrase

- end a phone call after you've called a number

I am sorry I have to hang up now. Someone is knocking at the door.

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the passage aloud. Then, read it silently.

Help!

If you own a television, you've seen them: amazing rescues from burning buildings, victims rescued from the bad guys, and lives saved in hospital ERs. From the comfort of your couch, you've seen the TV versions of real-life drama. The downside of these TV dramas is that they make emergencies seem very simple. Unlike in real life, TV problems are resolved in just an hour. But the upside of emergency shows is that people see what they have to do to get help.

The most important information to know in an emergency is a very simple phone number: 911. Even schools teach this number to small children at an early age. There are plenty of stories of kids as young as three years old making a 911 phone call that has saved a life. The phone number is the same for fire, medical, and police emergencies: 911. The phone number is the same from both landlines and cell phones: 911. When a landline call comes in, the emergency dispatcher may be able to see the phone number and the exact location of the call, but not always. Calls from a cell phone may not display the same information. The most critical thing to remember when making an emergency call is to remain calm. It's a matter of life and death. You must be understood when making this call. Because everyone tends to speak very quickly and excitedly when they are nervous or afraid, it can be even more difficult to understand second language speakers in an emergency. For this reason, it's vital to remember the following instructions:

1. Stay calm.

2. Speak slowly and clearly.

3. Know what information the operator will need.

The operator will ask many questions so that she can get a good picture of the problem and send exactly the right kind of help. She'll ask for essential information like: Who? What? Where? When? It's important to answer all the questions slowly and clearly. Don't worry; she's not wasting time. Even while you're answering her questions, the operator is contacting the right emergency system. You must stay on the line with the operator until help arrives. Do not hang up!

The 911 dispatchers are specially trained to ask very clear questions about the emergency. Remember, the operator will ask different questions as he or she learns about your emergency.

COMPREHENSION CHECK 🧠 A. Direction: Choose the correct answer to the following questions.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

What is the most important phone number to know in an emergency?
a. The most important phone number to know is the 191 emergency hotline.
b. The most important phone number during an emergency is 910.
c. The most important phone number is 129.
d. The most important phone number to know in an emergency is 911.
Why is it important for people to stay calm during an emergency call?
a. Staying calm is important during an emergency call because it can be a matter of life and death, and you need to be understood.

b. Staying calm throughout the emergency period is not important because it's a matter of life and death.

c. Staying calm is important so that others can also think properly.

d. Staying calm cannot help you make good decisions during an emergency.
What should you do if you're making an emergency call and speak a second language?
a. It is very important to learn English to avoid any conflict.

b. It is essential to learn different languages, especially in emergency situations.

c. If you speak a second language during an emergency call, it's vital to speak slowly and clearly.

d. It's important to speak loudly and quickly so that people can respond quickly as well.
What kind of information will the operator ask for during an emergency call?
a. The operator will ask for essential information like "Who? What? Where? When?" to understand the problem better.

b. The operator will ask for necessary information like "How, Why, and Who are you with?" to respond easily.

c. The operator will no longer ask for any information in order to save time.

d. The operator will ask for important details by asking, "Who, Where, and How?"
Should you hang up after calling 911?
a. No, you should wait until they tell you to do so.

b. No, you have to wait for the responders for around 20 minutes before you end the call.

c. No, you should not hang up after calling 911. You must stay on the line with the operator until help arrives.

d. You have the option of ending the call or not, but it would be better to stay on the line.

B. Direction: Answer the following questions based on the article.

What do emergency shows on TV often make emergencies look like?
Why is it important to speak slowly and clearly when calling 911?
Can 911 operators see your phone number and location when you call from a landline?
What happens if you hang up after calling 911?
Who are 911 dispatchers, and what do they do?

C. Direction: Match the words in column A with their synonyms in column B.

A	B
1. rescue	A. settle
2. version	B. save
3. resolve	C. essential
4. display	D. type
5. vital	E. show