Sask911

The Government of Saskatchewan supports and manages the Sask911 system. The service is financed and supported through a monthly line fee on telephone lines and wireless devices.

Emergency calls are answered by trained call-takers located in 9-1-1 call centres - called Public Safety Answering Points - in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina. Technology enables the operators to identify the name, location, and phone number of the caller, which is particularly helpful in rural areas.

When the 9-1-1 call-taker has determined the nature of the emergency (police, fire or ambulance) the caller is transferred to the emergency dispatch operator, who takes more detailed information about the nature and location of the emergency.

Current  technology enables call-takers to receive more precise information from callers using wireless devices. The technology provides the approximate location of the mobile handset, but the information can vary from a few to several hundred metres, and does not provide a street address or apartment number. Wireless device users should be prepared to give a 9-1-1 call-taker as much information as possible about their exact location.  New features include

level tracking, improved accuracy and security of information and the ability to receive texts, images and video from smart phones.

Coming shortly, the Civic Addressing Registry, will allow 9-1-1 call-takers and secondary agencies to more effectively route emergency response units to incidents in Saskatchewan

The following phone numbers are for non-emergency inquiries about the Sask911 service:

• The provincial contact for the Sask911 service is at 1-866-757-5911

Non-emergency contact information for specific locations:

• City of Prince Albert PSAP: 306-953-4285
• Regina Police Service PSAP: 306-777-6500
• Saskatoon Police Service PSAP: 306-975-8234 

Call 9-1-1 when there is an emergency situation that you can't control. These emergency situations may require a response from

• Police
• Medical personnel
• Firefighters
• Rescue personnel
• A combination of responses to deal with situations such as an incident involving dangerous goods or substances.

If you need to call 9-1-1, a 9-1-1 call-taker will ask you these basic questions to ensure the proper response is provided:

• Where is the emergency? What is your street address, land location or the location of the emergency? (A description of your house or the location of the emergency, the names of any access roads, and any other landmarks may also be helpful information you can provide.)
• What is the nature of the emergency? Do you need police, fire or an ambulance?
• What is your name?
• What is the telephone number you are calling from? This question is asked for verification purposes, in case your call is disconnected prematurely. 

Be prepared. Draw a simple diagram showing the most direct route to your home, acreage or farm. Keep it close to your phone with a list of important phone numbers.

Staying calm in an emergency is difficult, but there is other information you may be able to provide to a 9-1-1 call-taker in different emergency situations. Here are some examples:

Police Emergencies

• Are you in danger, or is someone's life in danger?
• If a crime has been committed, can you provide a description of the offender?
• Are there any weapons involved?

Medical Emergencies

• Is the person conscious? Breathing? What else can you tell about the person's condition?
• Is the person able to tell you anything about the problem he/she is experiencing?
• Are you able to provide emergency first aid? Is it safe to do so?

Fire Emergencies

• Are you in danger?
• Is there anyone trapped or injured?
• Are smoke and flames visible?
• What type of fire are you reporting?

Rescue Situations

• How many people are trapped or injured, or in need of rescue?
• If the situation involves vehicles, what types of vehicles are involved, and how many?
• Are there any other hazards present?
• Is there a risk of fire?

Dangerous Goods Situations

• Is fuel or other dangerous cargo leaking?
• Is there a sign with an identification number or symbol on the side, front or back of the vehicle or vehicles? If so, can you identify what the symbol is?

Prank Calls to 9-1-1

• Prank calls may take the 9-1-1 call-taker away from a real emergency call, and are a serious abuse of the system.
• Prank calls are traceable, and will be investigated.
• All incoming calls are recorded. The use of profanity or abuse of the telephone system may result in restrictions on phone service, or charges under the Criminal Code.
• If emergency vehicles are dispatched for no reason, the prank caller may be liable for the costs involved. 

There is a monthly line fee applied to residential, business, and trunk lines that will be collected through the telephone bill. This fee includes a charge for recovering the costs to install the telephone infrastructure and a charge to fund the operations of the PSAPs.

The line fees are the lowest amount that can be billed to the customer while providing the necessary hardware and call-taking functions required to manage the province's volume of emergency phone calls.

The fees are associated with the start-up and ongoing costs of the PSAPs. They cover SaskTel's equipment, installation, programming and service costs, and operational costs associated with hiring and training of operators, salaries, and administration.