Public Safety

The dedicated men and women of the public safety services work in partnership with the Sandersville community to provide a safe and secure living and working environment. The brave first responders of the Sandersville Police and Fire Departments and the Washington County EMS are  real-life superheros. Their job is to respond immediately (first) when there is an accident or emergency. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters, and police officers are all considered first responders. These men and women are dispatched by the equally-dedicated team of specialists in the 911 Department.

Emergencies happen without any warning. You can always think of potential emergencies and prepare for them, but it is not possible to predict the time and nature of the emergency, which is why most people panic and are unable to handle the situation when it happens.

If you are facing a fire emergency then the first thing you should do is to stay calm. Remind yourself that you have prepared for the situation. You should always have an escape route in your mind so that you can find it during the fire without any difficulty. Get on the ground and leave the building as soon as you can. Use water to extinguish the fire. Know that fire and electrical equipment don’t mix. Most importantly though, call the fire department as soon as you get out.

There are so many medical emergencies that you can face. If the emergency is minor, then you should be able to handle it by yourself. But if the emergency is major then the first thing is to stay calm and call for an ambulance. You should be aware of common medical procedures so that you can minimize the damage. It is important to know what you should do in case of choking and bleeding burning or hypothermia. Knowing some medical knowledge in these cases can help in saving a life during a critical situation.

Only contact 911 in an emergency situation. An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police/sheriff, the fire department or an ambulance. If you are ever in doubt of whether a situation is an emergency you should call 911. It’s better to be safe and let the 911 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.