Help Estes Park Health EMS Teams Find You

An Estes Park Health ambulance is parked underneath an awning, with another emergency vehicle partially visible in the background.

You don’t expect to have to call 911, but you should be prepared in the event the unexpected happens to you. Estes Park is privileged to have one of the best ambulance crews in Colorado, but they can only help you if they can find you.

Consider making these updates to your house number sign

The Estes Park Health EMS would recommend that you get house number signs for your house that:

  • Have large numbers that are reflective and visible from both directions on the road.
  • Are mounted near your driveway.
  • Are above the height that snow may be piled.

Allowing the EMS team to quickly and easily find your house may mean the difference between life and death for you or a loved one.

 Be prepared when you call 911

To help the Estes Park Health EMS help you, please have the following information available when you call 911:

  • What is your complete address – is it a street, road, lane, circle, drive, etc.?
  • What is the name of the hotel, condo or rental where you are staying? What is your room number?
  • What is the nearest cross street to your home or rental?
  • Why are you calling 911? Try to remain calm and clearly explain what has happened.
  • Are there any safety issues responding personnel need to know about?

Prepare for an EMS visit

To help the Estes Park Health EMS find your house, please follow these directions:

  • Have house number signs visible from both directions, and near your driveway.
  • Turn on outside lights and inside lights. For EMS, entering a dark house can be threatening.
  • Unlock your door if possible, or tell the dispatcher how responding personnel should enter your house.
  • If there is someone available, have them outside to flag down the ambulance.
  • Contain your pets. They can block EMS from getting to a patient. Pets feel stress and often are very protective – EMS personnel are strangers to them and even friendly pets can become aggressive in the commotion. Pets can be escape artists and when people are coming and going, a pet may sneak out a door.

 

Help EMS treat you quickly

To help the Estes Park Health EMS treat you quickly, please have the following ready when they arrive:

  • A complete list of your medications, typed or legibly written for only the patient (please do not have other people or pet medications listed).
  • Provide a description of the problem and let the EMTs know if this ever happened before?
  • Be able to share your medical history verbally or in writing.
  • Be sure to indicate allergies, especially any drug allergies.
  • Have copies of and share any DNR or Advance Care Directives.
  • Have your primary care provider information.
  • Have an emergency contact or two available.

Preparing for a 911 call is like having a fire evacuation plan. You hope you’ll never have to use it, but you are ready if it happens.