ABU DHABI // Residents who dial 999 to report emergencies will be honoured under a new community project.
The initiative, by Abu Dhabi Police, aims to encourage the public to alert authorities to accidents, fires and crimes.
It will also highlight the role of the police operations room, which is meant to receive and handle only emergency calls.
The scheme is being launched to coincide with National Day and will run alongside official celebrations.
The initial phase will include Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain and will run for 11 days from Wednesday. The initiative may be rolled out emirate-wide at a later date.
Callers who demonstrate an eagerness to maintain order and security will be rewarded, said Lt Fahd Al Dahmani, the project’s supervisor.
“Community members are required to specify the type of the reported emergency, if it’s a criminal or a traffic-related emergency, or an emergency that requires ambulance or civil defense services,” Lt Al Dahmani said.
“Callers must indicate the estimated number of casualties or victims and the potential risks on location. They must also provide the operations room with the necessary information clearly and rapidly without confusion.
“They are required to designate the accurate location of the incident by indicating a specific landmark in the vicinity, and to give their name and telephone number.
“They are required to cooperate fully with the competent authorities, provide the operations room with the necessary information and avoid unimportant details.
“They are also required to wait for the relevant entities to arrive to the scene to give a full statement before leaving.”
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