(BlackburnNews.com file photo)(BlackburnNews.com file photo)
Windsor

Kingsville, OPP Addressing Accidental 911 Calls

Ontario Provincial Police are teaming up with a local municipality to help reduce non-emergency or "butt-dialled" 911 calls.

The town of Kingsville is following a similar practice by Tecumseh, educating its residents on the effort to reduce the number of accidental 911 calls received.

The OPP says such calls are slightly down in the first third of 2018 compared to the same period last year, but the number remains disproportionately high, creating a strain on police, fire and EMS resources.

OPP Constable Jim Root says in Kingsville alone so far this year, an average of 80 accidental or non-emergency calls to 911 was responded to per month.

The effort is part of a province-wide initiative by the OPP called #KnowWhenToCall, to remind residents to use 911 for its intended purpose only, to report life-or-death emergencies only.

Root says accidental, or "butt-dialled" calls to 911 are an issue because each one needs a follow-up. Tracing such calls and sending officers to follow up stretch police resources and may make it harder for someone with a real emergency to get help in a situation where every minute counts.

The OPP says if you accidentally call 911, stay on the line and tell the dispatcher you made a mistake. This way, an emergency responder will not have to be dispatched to check on you.

Accidental calls can be prevented by locking your cell phone with a password, turning off the 911 auto-dial feature, and not putting 911 on speed-dial.

The OPP also reminds people that 911 is only for situations where life or property is immediately threatened. 911 is not to be used for directory assistance, to get traffic or weather information, obtain news updates or sports scores, complain about service at businesses and so forth.

Calling 911 as a prank is a crime, says the OPP. Callers who deliberately misuse the service may face criminal charges in some municipalities.

Children should also be taught to dial 911 in an emergency and not play with a cell phone, even if the battery has been removed.

Non-emergency calls should go to your local police or OPP detachment, or toll-free at 1-888-310-1122.

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