We want to thank Aron's Pharmacy, Gifts, and Grill for partnering with us to bring you this information, like us, they care about the health and safety of our community.
At Macaroni Kid Monroe-West Monroe we are all about having fun but with the launch of the critically important hotline 9-8-8, we realized that keeping you happy, healthy, and safe is important too. So, below you will find a list of some very important three-digit, easy-to-remember numbers which are reserved for emergencies, critical community services, safety, travel, and now mental health interventions.
As always, your children are included in this article with some helpful tools so that, if needed, they will be able to call emergency services.
9-8-8
Recently launched, 9-8-8 is the newest of the 3-digit hotlines. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will operate and take calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the United States. The operation is comprised of a national network of more than 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources. There is hope that with this easy-to-remember number that more people will seek support when needed and younger people who sometimes prefer autonomy 9-8-8 will also have a texting feature.
Mental health needs are very important to Macaroni Kid Monroe-West Monroe and we ask that you help us share this new and critically important information.
What does this mean for people in Louisiana that already had the prefix 988 in use? Well, for those in the 337 or 504 area codes you must now dial the area code for all outgoing local calls also referred to as 10-digit dialing. You can see the full report here.
9-1-1
First began in 1968 when the first 911 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fite. By March of 1973, the White House Office of Telecommunications issued a national policy statement that recognized the benefits of 9-1-1. This number is meant to access emergency services in our community. It automatically dispatches the police, fire truck, and an ambulance to your location.
If you need to report a non-emergency or situation that doesn't require the fire department or an ambulance such as a stolen bike, etc. you can call the police department directly.
City of Monroe Police Department
(318)329-2600
City of West Monroe Police Department
(318)396-4903
Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department
(318)329-1200
City of Monroe Fire Department
(318)329-2474
City of West Monroe Fire Department
(318)397-0758
Make sure your child knows their full name and address. If you are still using a landline telephone disconnecting it and allowing your child to practice dialing could be helpful. If you have a cellphone here are some helpful steps to teach your child how to dial 9-1-1. These helpful steps are provided by Verizon which also includes a cellphone Simulator Index. The Simulator will allow you to select your cellphone model and show step-by-step directions. Make sure, if you have a lock screen, that your child knows the password and can enter it.
Here is a video from About Kids Health, that could be helpful:
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Eerik, Getty Images Signature |
8-1-1 (It's the Law)
It is the homeowner's responsibility to make sure that they are safely digging and to do that, you must call 8-1-1 to locate and mark unseen utility or water lines.
When you call or click to file a locate request, Louisiana 811 uses a sophisticated computerized mapping system to notify members whose facilities are likely to be affected by your excavation or demolition. Our members respond by marking their cables, pipelines, and similar systems so that you can avoid them. It is up to you to avoid them when you dig, and any necessary repairs or maintenance are also your responsibility.
If your gas meter, electric meter, or water meter are not installed directly on your building, you must take special care when excavating on your property. Many homes and offices have utility meters installed some distance away. If this is the case on your property, the lines from the meters to your structures are your responsibility. Even when utilities mark their lines near your work site, digging in unmarked areas can still be hazardous or cause service interruptions. Did you know that the average underground depth of a gas line is 24 inches? The most important thing to remember, you don't know what you don't know.
There is no charge for this service.
7-1-1
Have you ever wondered how you can communicate, by phone, with someone who has difficulty hearing or speaking? The Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) enables standard voice telephone users to talk to people who have difficulty hearing or speaking on the telephone. You may know someone who would love this free telephone service!
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) operators, called communications assistants, are always available. When you place a call through this free telephone service, a communications assistant will quickly convert the words you say into typed words, so
your friend who has difficulty hearing on the phone can read your words. Your friend can answer you verbally, or type a response that a communications assistant reads to you. In order to communicate this way, your friend will need a phone used by persons with hearing and speech disabilities, called a TTY.
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5-1-1
5-1-1 is Louisiana's official, easy-to-remember traveler information service. 5-1-1 provides continual updates about weather-related road conditions, road work, commercial vehicle restrictions, road closures, and other travel information via the phone, Internet, or free downloadable mobile app. FAQ About 5-1-1
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has an extensive list of services to offer that includes signing up for an account so you can enter specific routes you travel and get text alerts about road conditions, wrecks, construction, etc.
5-1-1 is made possible through the cooperation of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana State Police, and the Federal Highway Administration.
2-1-1
The number is for essential community services that are non-emergencies. In our community, 2-1-1 is operated by our local United Way of Northeast Louisiana. You can speak to someone 24/7 365 days of the year. They also have an online searchable database that will allow you to access community resources.
We have to include a couple of numbers that are very important and while they are not 3 digit, they are to important to exclude:
National Poison Control Center
You can contact poison control for many reasons like identifying a pill, understanding how to read OTC drug labels, poison prevention, battery ingestion, and much more. Remember, act fast and if the person collapses, seizes, can't breathe, or can't be awakened call 9-1-1. Help and FAQ
1(800)222-1222
Animal Poison Control Center
The ASPCA is the best resource for animal poison related emergency. They are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If your pet is unresponsive seek an emergency pet hospital or vet. Also, when you call the APCC, a consultation fee could apply.
You will find the website contains helpful information about poisonous plants (with printable lists for dogs, cats, and horses), people foods to avoid, poisonous household products, and more.
1(800)426-4435
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