Police are reminding everyone that 9-1-1 is for emergencies only. West Parry Sound OPP responded to 384 calls of 9-1-1 between January 1st and June 30th this year which is a 16 per cent decrease compared to 457 calls during the same period last year. Of those calls, 60-90 per cent were of a non-emergent nature such as Pocket Dials, accidental dials, and children playing with phones. Acting Staff Sergeant Detachment Commander Peter Peever says when 9-1-1 is called, emergency services will respond and unnecessary calls place a huge burden on those resources and could prevent a speedy response to a real emergency. Here are some tips to prevent accidental 9-1-1 calls:
- Lock mobile phones or place them on “stand-by” by using the keypad lock feature. If your mobile has a 9-1-1 auto-dial feature, you may be able to disable it. Check the user manual to see if your phone has the ability;
- Don’t program 9-1-1 into your speed dial. It only takes a second to dial 9-1-1;
- Do not place your cell phone in a position where keys can accidentally dial. Use a case or holster to protect it when you put it away;
- Do not let children play with a household phone or old cell phones. If a phone has a battery in it, even if it is out of minutes or does not have a contract or service, it can still dial 9-1-1.