Public Emergency Codes

Featured Analysis

The System is Failing Us Because We Are Failing The System

Because people often don’t know who else to call, they dial 911 for minor issues that should be handled elsewhere [1]. This forces dispatchers to sort through non-emergency requests at the exact moment they need to be answering calls that save lives.

This extra volume hits an emergency workforce already facing severe understaffing and heavy burnout [2]. When call centers get overwhelmed, wait times spike, critical calls go unanswered, and precious seconds are lost when they matter most [3].

We can directly protect these critical lifelines by guiding people to the right numbers before they default to 911. Dialing 988 connects you to immediate, 24/7 mental health crisis support; 211 hooks you up with essential community resources like housing or food assistance; and 311 (or local municipal lines) handles city services and non-urgent complaints. Simple public education ensures 911 operators can focus entirely on saving lives, slashes avoidable delays, and keeps help just seconds away when a true emergency strikes.

“A Public issue,
requires a Public solution.”
CAD Console Failing
CAD / ACTIVE INCIDENT QUEUE 184% LOAD
Pending Calls
E12BUSY
M04ENR
L07HOLD
DISPATCH: closest unit unavailable CAD: duplicate non-emergency traffic detected ROUTE: alternate services underused
9:41
5G
911
Police, fire, or medical emergency.

Use for any active police, fire, or medical emergency happening right now that needs an immediate first responder.

988
Mental health & suicide crisis.

Use for mental health crises, suicidal thoughts, or emotional distress. Connects you directly to a trained crisis counselor.

311
Local government city services.

Use for non-emergency city services like potholes, broken streetlights, noise complaints, or minor parking issues.

211
Community health social services.

Use for community resources such as housing assistance, food pantries, utility support, and disaster relief programs.

“Paid for by the Public,
for the Public.”

Public Education Routing

Educate & Integrate

The Educate & Integrate initiative teaches the public when to call 911 and when to use more appropriate alternatives, including 988 for mental health or emotional crisis support, 211 for community resources, and local government non-emergency numbers for issues that do not require immediate emergency response.

The long-term goal is to integrate these alternatives directly into calling, messaging, and communication platforms so people are visually guided to the right number before they automatically call 911. Emergency access should not depend on memory alone. Phones and communication apps should make 988, 211, and local non-emergency services easier to recognize, easier to access, and easier to initiate when the situation does not require police, fire, or emergency medical response.

Until that type of platform-level integration becomes standard, Public Emergency Codes promotes a temporary contact-saving method that helps bridge the gap. Alternative numbers can be saved in a person’s phone with labels such as “Mental Health Hotline (NOT 911),” “Community Resources (NOT 911),” and “County Non-Emergency Services (NOT 911).” This wording is intentional: when someone is stressed and begins dialing “911”, these alternative contacts should appear as search results or suggested contacts, creating a visible reminder that another service may be more appropriate.

This approach helps reduce confusion in stressful moments, routes people to the right support faster, and helps protect 911 capacity for true emergencies. Public Emergency Codes also supports this mission through education for app developers and a free communications app that demonstrates how clearer emergency and non-emergency access can be built into modern communication tools, along with several additional tools designed to help reduce 911 load and improve overall safety.

Order Posters

Funding notice Due to limited funding, physical poster orders are added to a waitlist. You can download the posters now and print them locally.
Select posters
Poster details
Point of contact
Commercial shipping address

Mobile Emergency Interface

Public education alone can't fix our emergency communication system—the technology inside your phone needs an upgrade too.

While basic 911 rules force carriers to share your location, modern safety apps still lack a standardized, reliable way to send rich data, like your medical profile or building access codes, to local dispatchers. When dispatchers are left in the dark, first responders arrive blind, which can lead to dangerous, preventable medical errors regarding your medications, allergies, or immediate treatment needs.

At the same time, apps fail to guide you to alternative options, making 911 the default button for every problem. A smarter app would build right into your screen, instantly steering you to 988 for a mental health or behavioral crisis, your county non-emergency services phone number for everyday issues like road hazards or noise complaints, and 211 for community support like food or housing assistance.

To bridge this gap immediately, we offer a free app for the public that includes all of these advanced routing and safety features. Our ultimate goal is to prove these tools work so that all major communication platforms and smartphone manufacturers integrate these life-saving standards directly into their software, ensuring you always get the exact help you need without delay.

“Developed by the Public,
for the Public.”
GitHub GitLab

Supporting Documents

Request Project Documents

Select the supporting materials you would like to receive, then tell us where to send them.

Documents requested

Your information will only be used to respond to this request. See our Privacy Policy.

Daily Safety Tips

Before you continue

Donate securely through PayPal

Your donation is made to AID, the 501(c)(3) public charity operating Public Emergency Codes. EIN: 93-3844837.

PayPal will process the payment and may collect transaction, identity, device, and technical information under its own policies. Public Emergency Codes does not receive your PayPal password or full payment credentials.

Donations are voluntary and generally final. Tax deductibility depends on applicable law and your circumstances. No goods or services are provided in exchange unless expressly stated.