The first 911 call was made 50 years ago Friday, and although phone technology has changed, dispatchers want you to know they still need the basics.

The first call made to 911 was placed Feb. 16, 1968 from a red telephone in Haleyville City Hall in Alabama to the city's police station, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

That call set in motion a historic effort to give people a simple way to call for help. Now, a half-century later, 911 dispatchers fill an operations center at the Orlando Fire Department, where they're "truly the first first-responder," said Danette Jameson, assistant manager at OFD's communications division. "We render aid while emergency units are en route."

"911 is universal now in the United States, and other countries are picking up some version of 911 so that everybody knows they can dial three numbers and they are going to receive help," she said.

Although technology gives dispatchers greater access to information, they still need basic information from you.

The most critical piece of information is your location, whether it be the closest intersection or a mile marker if you're on the road.

"We can almost always pinpoint the location of a caller, but it's not (always) 100 percent accurate. That's why it's so important to know where you are at all times," Jameson said.

Dispatchers also need your number, so they can call you back if you become disconnected. They also need the type of help you need, so they can bring the most helpful equipment.

"It's such a milestone to know that 911 has been around for 50 years, and we just keep evolving and making a difference in our community," Jameson said.