Both the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) are receiving transferred 911 calls for service that do not require an emergency response. These calls for service are unnecessarily utilizing police resources and may prevent those who are dealing with an actual emergency from receiving the immediate assistance they require.
The Provincial Government's Emergency Services – 911 Division has confirmed that 911 Call Takers regularly receive 911 calls where they are unable to confirm with a caller if an emergency service is needed, such as a hang up or a call with no voice on the other end. In these circumstances, 911 Call Takers are required to notify police of the call received by 911.
Calls involving background noises are immediately transferred to the appropriate police service for further action. In cases of a hang-up, 911 Call Takers will call the number back. If the call back is unanswered, police will be notified for further action.
If you initiate an accidental call to 911, please ensure that you do the following:
- Do NOT hang up. Stay on the line and report that the call was placed accidentally.
- If you've hung up, please answer a returned call so the matter can be resolved.
- If police or other emergency responders attend your home, please answer your door.
There are a number of causes for accidental calls to 911, with the vast majority originating from cell phones, including Android and iPhone devices and various smart watches. Most of these devices have an Emergency SOS feature that will automatically dial 911 in certain circumstances. Some newer devices are equipped with crash detection technology which automatically alerts 911 when a crash is detected. Commonly, these features are leading to false reports placed to 911 and can be generated during other activities, such as offroad vehicle use. Cell phone users are encouraged to review the settings on their device to understand how these features are activated in an effort to reduce accidental calls.
Another common source originating from cellular devices and smart watches to 911 is "pocket dialing". Users are encouraged to store their cell phone in a safe manner when not in use and are strongly advised not to pre-program 911 as a contact in their device. These efforts will decrease the chances of unintentional calls.
Decommissioned or deactivated cell phones, those without a SIM card, are also a common source of accidental calls to 911. Although not in service, these devices are equipped with the capability of placing a call to 911. Many of these devices are provided to children for other uses. Parents should educate their kids on how a 911 call is placed on a deactivated cell phone to prevent accidental calls and further educate them on what they should do if an accidental call is placed.
Emergency situations require an appropriate emergency response. Please do your part to ensure accidental calls for service to 911 are handled properly so that police and other emergency responders are readily available to those who require assistance.