911 Emergency

911-emergency

 

When Kane County Emergency Communications Deputy Director Michelle Guthrie emailed the KaneComm team about starting a “tip of the month” for Kane County Connects, you might have thought she was talking to real estate agents, because the answer she received was location, location, location.

KaneComm telecommunicators said the one piece of information they often don’t get quickly or clearly enough is the emergency location. The sooner that information is provided, the more quickly a police officer, ambulance or fire truck can respond.

​​​Tip of the Month

When dialing 9-1-1, the first question the dispatcher will typically ask is the location of the emergency. Please provide this information FIRST.  Your call may need to be transferred to another 9-1-1 center, especially when you are dialing 9-1-1 from a cellular phone.

 

Related Questions

  • Why does a call sometimes need to be transferred to another 9-1-1 center?

KaneComm handles all emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance for 10 police and seven fire agencies in Kane County. The location of the emergency may be in a jurisdiction not serviced by KaneComm. Or, the caller may be in KaneComm’s jurisdiction, but the information the caller wants to report is in another part of the county, state or even country.

  • Why is providing a location “especially” important when the caller is using a cellular phone?

Wireless phones are a great tool, but they also create a unique challenge for first responders. Wireless phones are mobile, so they are not associated with a fixedlocation or address like a landline phone. The location of the cell site closest to the 9-1-1 caller may provide a general indication of where the caller is, but that information is not always specific enough for first responders to locate the caller quickly. Factors such as the weather, terrain and buildings may affect wireless service and the ability to calculate the caller’s location, particularly for wireless 911 calls placed indoors.

  • What’s the best way to give a location?

Be as specific as possible. An address is best. If there’s not an address available, the street name and nearest cross street (or intersection) is needed.

Wrong: “I just saw an accident on Route 47.” Route 47 is too broad, so the telecommunicator will ask for a cross street.

Right: “I just saw an accident on Route 47. The nearest cross street (or intersection) is Beith Road.”

  • Is it better to say numbers as one? (“One. Two. Three. Main Street, Batavia” or “One twenty-three Main Street”) or doesn’t it matter?

Either way is fine, as long as the address is provided. The telecommunicator will usually ask the caller to repeat the address for verification.

  • Do I need to provide a zip code?

No zip code needed.

Related Tips

  • Stay calm.
  • Wait for the call-taker to ask questions, then answer clearly.
  • Do not hang up until the dispatcher says it’s OK to do so.
  • If you get disconnected while talking to 911, always try to call back
  • Do not nod your head while talking. Instead, answer “yes” or “no” out loud.

Want More Info?

KaneComm recommends these websites:

About KaneComm

kanecomm 911 A SMALLKane County Emergency Communications (KaneComm) is a multi-jurisdictional dispatch center responsible for the deployment of several police, fire, and medical agencies located within Kane County. KaneComm personnel are tasked with all of the incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance from citizens residing in these jurisdictions. Subscribers to KaneComm include the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, police departments from Wayne, Gilberts, Hampshire, Maple Park, Pingree Grove, Campton Hills, Fox Valley Park District, Kane County Forest Preserve District and South Elgin, and the fire districts of Burlington, Hampshire, Maple Park, Pingree Grove, Fox River, Big Rock and Kaneville. For more information, visit the KaneComm web page.

Carbon Monoxide Safety

fire logo

 

Although the popularity of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms has been growing in recent years, it cannot be assumed that everyone is familiar with the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.

Often called the silent killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel potential sources of carbon monoxide. Vehicles or generators running in an attached garage can also produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Safety Tips:

• Install CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of carbon monoxide

• CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for replacement and mounting height.

• Combination smoke and CO alarms must be installed in accordance with requirements for smoke alarms.

• Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.

• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instruction.

• If the audible signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace battery. If it still sounds, call the fire department from a remote area outside of structure.

• Have fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.

• When using a fireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation.

• Never use your oven to heat your home.

• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or any fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.

• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.

• A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.

• Use battery-powered lights in tents, trailers and motor homes and motor boats.

If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call 911 for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrive.

If you would like additional information on Carbon Monoxide safety, please contact the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District at 630-584-3473 or email admin@frcfr.org.

Carl A. DeLeo, Fire Chief

Local Government & Services Overview

puzzle pieces and hands

hand in red tapeFor those who are not familiar with Illinois governing system or who have recently moved from a city, living in this unincorporated area may be a bit confusing.  While our address is ‘Saint Charles’, we do not live in the city boundaries and are not covered by city services (nor do we pay city taxes!).  This address designation is determined by the Post Office and is a throwback to the fact that we are in St. Charles Township.

Governance:  Our government representatives are the St Charles Township Board and the Kane County Board. We can not be annexed into a city without petitioning for incorporation AND the city agreeing to annex us.

Schools:  We reside in Community Unit School District (CUSD) 303 which comprises a geographical boundary including all or parts of W. Chicago, St Charles, Wayne, Campton Hills, Wasco, S Elgin, Elgin, and St Charles Township. The diverse number of communities is an aspect of the individual cities annexing parts of the unincorporated areas of the school district within their boundaries.

Library & Parks: Our neighborhood also resides in the St. Charles Library and Park Districts which both have their own governing boards and taxing authority. Parks in the area are also provided by the Kane County Forest Preserve.

Fire & Law Enforcement:  Our Fire is provided by the Fox River Countryside Fire and Rescue District (FRC) and an explanation of their services was provided by them and can be found on our website. We do have fire hydrants throughout the neighborhood which is part of our water & sewer system.  Our only law enforcement is through the Kane County Sheriff Department, however if there are issues in surrounding S. Elgin or St. Charles areas this is handled by their respective city police departments.

Roads:  We are at a unique location regarding road governance.  Roads within our neighborhood are serviced by the township road department. Silver Glen (5) and Randall Roads (34) are both county roads and are controlled and maintained by Kane County government bodies. Route 31 is actually a state highway and is controlled by IDOT.

Water & Sewer:  Our water & sewage is owned by our HOA who contracts a maintenance company (Town & Country) to test and maintain the system.  While it is a ‘community well’, water is obtained by (2) deep, 900+ foot pumps, treated, and pressurized in a loop system similar to any city water system.  It is governed by Illinois EPA standards and is tested daily.

Trash Pickup:  Garbage, as in many unincorporated areas, must be contracted privately.  As a neighborhood we have contracted with one of the companies to give us reduced pricing based on the number of residents who are enrolled. Cable is limited to Comcast, though a few residents recently have the option of AT&T for at least some services, and satellite is also an option.

Hope this helps explain some and clarify this web of government and services.

Guidelines for Draining Swimming Pools

swimming pool drainage

swimming pool drainageIn the past some residents drained their pools into the culverts which feeds directly into our ponds. Please DO NOT DO THIS!!!

GUIDELINES FOR DRAINING SWIMMING POOLS

Your swimming pool is filled with chlorinated water. Chlorinated water discharged directly to surface waters (wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers), roadways or storm sewers has an adverse impact on local water quality. High concentrations of chlorine, as are present in swimming pools, are toxic to wildlife and fish. Appropriate preparations should be made prior to draining down a pool during pool winterizing. It is recommended that one of the following measures be used:
De-chlorinate the water in the pool prior to draining. This can be done through mechanical or chemical means. These types of products are readily available at local stores.

OR

Drain the pool over a period of several days across your lawn using the following additional guidelines:

1) Allow pool water to sit at least 2 days while receiving a reasonable amount of sunlight, and without further addition of chlorine or bromine. It is recommended that the chlorine level be tested after 2 days to ensure that safe levels are met (below 0.1 mg/l).

2) Ideally, pool water should be removed and trucked out. Otherwise, pool discharge should be directed across your lawn, not down your driveway or into nearby storm culverts. Our storm sewer system leads directly to wetlands, ponds, and the river.

These recommendations are based on guidance from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Visit www.epa.state.il.us/water for additional information.

Please do your part to help promote cleaner wetlands, streams, lakes and rivers.
Thank you.

Backyard Crawl Planned

backyard party

backyard partyBackyard Crawl Party Planned

We’ve had a great response for the backyard crawl party with several residents committing their patios – THANKS!!

The party is moving forward for June 20th so everyone pray for great weather and watch your emails for more information.

A number of residents have already committed to attending, so this should be a wonderful event.