When Needing Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance from 911 calls for fire, rescue, or medical response teams will result in a charge or fee (which can be very expensive). This does not include police response from a 911 call.
Ambulance fees are very expensive! If you can, transport a person needing help to the hospital by yourself or with the help of a friend.
♦ When you call 911, identify the problem by stating either police, fire, or ambulance so the emergency dispatcher knows what to send and you don’t get charged for all three departments (unless you need all three).
♦ Also, share your location and a brief description of the situation: “fire,” “flood,” “bleeding,” “intruder,” etc. Example: 911 – fire! Room on fire at 1803 Lincoln Ave Apartment A.
♦ The slower and more concise you can speak, the sooner the emergency dispatcher will be able to send someone to help!
♦ Don’t hang up until the operator tells you to do so.
♦ Remember, medical and fire 911 calls costs, so only use these services in case of a TRUE emergency!
If you have a non-emergency call or a question for one of these departments, please call the Golden non-emergency number 303-980-7300 – the non-emergency personnel can answer a question without charging you.
♦ If you call 911 accidentally, do not hang up! To avoid having a response team come to assist you, stay on the line and tell the operator that your call was a mistake.
URGENT CARE VERSUS STAND-ALONE EMERGENCY ROOMS (More Expensive)
New clinics with stand-alone emergency rooms that are not connected to a hospital are being built in the Golden area. Some appear to just be Urgent Care facilities, but really are much more than that.
These stand alone emergency facilities can cost up to five times MORE than a hospital emergency room visit!
If you have a medical need, contact the clinic at the School of Mines or a facility like New West Physicians, NextCare Urgent Care or a hospital BEFORE trying to go to one of these “Stand Alone” or “Pop-up” Emergency Rooms.
If it is a life-threatening emergency, go to a hospital! If you can wait a few hours, call around to try and find out the best place to care for your need.
Consult a doctor to get recommendation on how to identify these “Stand Alone” or “Pop-up” emergency rooms.
Also, when calling a facility in search of urgent care, ask if that facility has an emergency room. If yes, consider trying to find another source.
Getting Stopped by Police
If you get stopped by police, do NOT get out of your car! Also, be ready to present your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and car registration when the police officer comes to your window. Simply roll down your window, do NOT open your door. Stay in your car! Smile. You’ll survive. You can also ask to see a police’s identification.
In addition, place your car registration and proof of car insurance in a sealed bag inside the car so you can be prepared before getting stopped. Do not keep the title to your car in your car because if your car is stolen, the thief has the title to your car.
If you are involved in a car accident, do not get out of your car when on a freeway or in the middle of fast moving traffic – stay in your car for safety until emergency personnel arrive.