Poudre Fire Authority Educates Public on When to Use 988 vs 911 for Emergencies
Poudre Fire Authority is helping Northern Colorado residents understand when to call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline versus 911, as confusion between the two emergency services could delay critical care during mental health crises.
The fire authority outlined clear distinctions September 27 between the services: residents should call or text 988 for mental health and substance use support, suicide prevention, crisis de-escalation, and connections to local care and treatment resources. The 911 system remains designated for medical emergencies, fires, crimes in progress, and life-threatening danger.
"Together, 988 and 911 create a pathway for whole-person care—so you don't have to face a crisis alone," Poudre Fire Authority stated in the public education message.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was established nationwide on July 16, 2022, replacing the former 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as the primary three-digit behavioral health crisis line, according to federal health data. Colorado supported this transition through state legislation appropriating funding and establishing a wireless surcharge to fund ongoing operations.
In Larimer and Weld Counties, protocols exist for coordination when mental health crises require both crisis counselors and emergency responders. If someone contacts 988 and the situation is assessed as an immediate threat to life, such as an active suicide attempt in progress, 988 counselors will transfer or escalate the call to 911 for emergency dispatch, according to Colorado behavioral health officials.
Conversely, if a 911 dispatcher identifies a behavioral health crisis that does not require urgent law enforcement or EMS response, they may coordinate with local mobile crisis teams or refer callers to 988 or Colorado Crisis Services for further support.
Local emergency responders receive specialized training for mental health situations. All Larimer and Weld County law enforcement and emergency responders participate in Crisis Intervention Team training, a 40-hour program teaching officers skills for de-escalation, mental health assessment, and safe intervention, according to federal emergency management documentation.
The Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County offers free QPR suicide prevention trainings to help community members recognize warning signs and respond appropriately. QPR training teaches participants how to question someone about suicidal intent, persuade them to get help, and refer them to appropriate resources or professionals.
The Alliance, a nonprofit founded in 1989, has trained more than 5,000 community members in QPR across Larimer County schools, agencies, and the general public, according to federal health service data. The organization also operates additional programs including immediate crisis support for survivors of suicide loss and youth peer-led programs in school partnerships.
Colorado maintains a public 988 data dashboard showing the service handles calls, texts, and chats with average answer times statewide under 30 seconds. Monthly contacts through 988 have grown significantly since implementation, with calls to Colorado Crisis Services also routed through the 988 system for unified access.
The educational message comes as infrastructure projects continue affecting emergency response across Northern Colorado, highlighting the importance of residents understanding which emergency services to contact for different situations.
For QPR training information, residents can visit the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County's website at allianceforsuicideprevention.org.