NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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MIDLAND - Members of the Southern Georgian Bay detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to over 1,358 false 9-1-1 calls for service in 2018.
Many of these calls, that are commonly referred to as pocket dials, happen when a mobile device is carried in a purse, backpack or in a pocket.
With the current generation of smartphones with large exposed screens, an unintentional phone call can happen very easily with accidental contact with the screen or buttons.
As well there are many smart watches that can be synced to a smartphone and they too can make unintentional calls, which is another scenario which has made its appearance as a cause of 'pocket dials.'
For every unintentional call or pocket dial received, an emergency communicator must determine whether a real emergency exists and if police, fire or paramedics should be dispatched.
With every unintentional call received, precious seconds may be taken away from someone who really needs help. If you place an unintentional 9-1-1 call, stay on the line to let the emergency operator know it was a pocket dial/unintentional call.
Every 9-1-1 call is taken seriously. When a 9-1-1 caller doesn't respond, that could be a sign of trouble - a possibility an emergency responder can't ignore. This then results in officers being dispatched to try to locate the caller to ensure that there is no emergency, taking up even more time dedicated to the call.
You can prevent pocket dials or unintentional 9-1-1 calls by:
- Locking your keypad if your phone has this feature and/or buying a phone case with a full screen cover to prevent contact with the touch screen
- Avoid from programming a wireless device/land line phone to 'speed dial' 9-1-1
- If you have a smart watch that is synced to your phone ensure that the auto call feature is turned off
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