Proliferation of new technologies like Voice over Internet Protocol making it difficult for emergency dispatchers to find callers.

They can't send you help if they can't find you. That's the problem confronting 911 dispatchers across the country.

In some densely populated areas like California's Silicon Valley, a 911 call from a cellphone may be routed to one of several potential recipients. Each time a call gets rerouted delays the time emergency aid can be dispatched.

VoIP users may wish to verify with their provider that a 911 call will even make it to a dispatcher. Many VoIP providers have not yet been able to provide access to the 911 phone networks.

The state of Texas sued Vonage over this issue, after a Houston teenager tried to call 911 for help during a home invasion and instead got a message saying 911 wasn't available.

New cellphone features like Enhanced 911 have been coming to market. E911 helps route a call to the right place by virtue of having a global positioning chip in the handset. Other E911 phones tell the dispatch center which cell tower handled an incoming call.

It is obvious that the consumer must beware of the products, and its limitations, that they buy and subscribe to.

Further, they should be aware of what their responsibility should be in an emergency. To that, I mean, give clear, concise and accurate information when calling EMS/911 and NEVER hang up unless told to do so by the dispatcher or for safety considerations.

Many states do not have E911 and I concur that they should at all costs; no price can be placed on life!

A few other quick points:

Buy a cell phone that has a hot button for 911; pushing and holding the #9 autodials 911.

Calling 911 on a cell routes via the nearest tower to the nearest EMS/911 station, not your home network.

*** FCC regulations mandate that a cell phones, even without subscripions service, be able to call 911 *** NEVER throw a cell phone away - DONATE it to a shelter or safe house organization as a rescue phone ***

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W. R. Mineo