City of Chicago: 9-1-1 Day

The City of Chicago has declared September 11, 2001 to be 9-1-1 day. The Chicago Airport System joins with the City, and its 9-1-1 Center, the American Heart Association and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to promote 9-1-1 awareness.

The Chicago Airport System is committed to creating an environment in which all Airport personnel recognize the early warning signs for heart attack. Close to 300,000 people travel through or work at our airports on a daily basis. The Chicago Heartsave Program has trained over 3,000 Airport employees to operate automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). AEDs are used to assist a heart attack victim to regain and maintain heart defibrillation. AEDs have been placed at one minute walking intervals throughout Chicago's airports.

The Chicago Airport System has worked in conjunction with both the Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Fire Department to establish a well run 9-1-1 Communications Center. The 9-1-1 Communications Center at O'Hare, commonly called the O'Hare Communications Center (OCC) handles all police, fire, and emergency calls at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Early use of 9-1-1 during an event enables emergency personnel to respond rapidly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport's local emergency telephone number is (773) 894-9111.

Emergency personnel at Chicago's Airport System includes both the Midway and O'Hare Command Centers, the Chicago Fire Department, the Chicago Police Department, and the Department of Aviation Special Police. The Chicago Fire Department maintains three fire stations at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Two are located on the airfield. One is located immediately adjacent to I190. Chicago's Midway Airport has one fire station that is located on airport property. These four stations contain both fire apparatus and ambulance (EMS) vehicles. Fire personnel stationed at Chicago's airports undergo rigorous training at Chicago O'Hare's Fire Training Facility. Located on the north airfield, the facility is used to train firefighters from across the Midwest.

The Chicago Police Department has created independent, stand alone police kiosks in Terminals 1,2, and 3 at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. These "mini-stations" act as a guidepost for travelers moving through the airport terminals. Police visibility has shown to act as a deterrent to criminal acts. During events, police are stationed in such a mannner as to be able to easily deploy response teams.

The Chicago Airport System salutes 9-1-1 awareness. This nationwide campaign is an important step in promoting the great strides that have been made by our emergency personnel.