How did 9-1-1 become the Universal Emergency Number? On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson, in different rooms, were about to try a new transmitter. Watson heard Bell's voice saying, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want you!" Bell had upset the acid of a battery over his clothes. The first telephone call became a part of history as a call for assistance.
The idea of being able to dial a single (universal) number to report emergencies was first utilized in Great Britain, back in 1937. Citizens could dial the digits "9-9-9" and reach a central operator who would in turn dispatch law enforcement, fire, or ambulance as needed. During World War II, American military personnel were introduced to this system while stationed in England. In the early 1950's, a universal police and fire number was used at all U.S. Military installations worldwide. Then in 1957, the National Association of Fire Chiefs recommended that a similar system be created for civilian use. The idea of a three-digit emergency number in the United States was introduced to Congress and committees were formed to decide how to make the concept a reality.
First, the telephone companies had to find a three-digit number that was not being used anywhere in the United States or Canada as a central office exchange or an area code. Other considerations were that it should be easy to find on the telephone dial or easily dialed in the dark. The telephone industry decided on the digits "9-1-1". At first, 'Basic 9-1-1' could only provide a voice connection to a predetermined emergency response agency. Callers knew that a call to 9-1-1 would connect them to the right people for emergency help, but the emergency responders did not have any information other than that provided by the caller. Still, Basic 9-1-I was a big improvement in emergency services. The first 9-1-1 call was placed on February 16, 1968 in Haleyville, Alabama.
Later, Enhanced 9-1-1' provided the caller's location information and telephone number via special computers and display screens. Enhanced 9-1-1 also provides features for selective routing and selective transfer of 9-1-1 calls to multiple emergency response jurisdictions.
Introduction into Miami-Dade County Since September 1974, it has been a goal of the State of Florida to implement 9-1-1 statewide. In 1975, the law enforcement community and fire services of Miami-Dade County responded with a plan to create a 9-1-1 system. In 1979, Metropolitan Dade County and the surrounding municipalities put a centralized 9-1-1 computer assisted dispatch system into service.
Funded almost entirely by a federal grant for five million dollars, the prospective tenants, Miami-Dade County's police, fire and data processing departments, together with the General Services Administration developed building specifications. As a result of their combined efforts, the three floor, reinforced concrete building was constructed adjacent to the existing civil defense building in South Dade County on eight acres of land.
