In case of an emergency, a lot of people think that they can get someone to the hospital quicker if they get in the car and drive them themselves; which is usually not the case.

No matter what our age, many people know who to call when they need help. 8 year old Lee Esckilsen says "Whenever you call 911 they come over and rescue you. It's only for emergencies."

Lee County Emergency Services Spokesperson Paul Filla explains "The challenge there is for the community, is what constitutes an emergency. It's definitely not a number to call for traffic and weather information."

Paul says that calling 911 is the fastest way to get emergency help. The EMS call takers at the end of the line are trained to give out medical advice until other medical workers arrive. "And they're able to walk you through, and more importantly they're able to calm you down and get you in the frame of mind. The call takers are real good about staying right on track."

Paul also says that it's especially emotional when dealing with emergencies with children and family members. The American Heart Association recommends for instance, when it comes to children and choking to use some protocol. "For the first minute you attend to the child, because usually those obstructions, if they come out, they come out within the first minute."

When calling 9-1-1 from your cell phone your location might not be available, so it's important to tell the emergency operator the location of the emergency right away and give them your wireless phone number in case you get disconnected.

When 9-1-1 was originally introduced it was advertised as the "nine-eleven" service. However, some panicked individuals tried to find the "eleven" key on their telephones so now all references to the emergency number are always made as nine-one-one - never as "nine-eleven."