North Island 9-1-1 Hang Up Call Procedure

When an emergency dispatcher receives a hang up call, an immediate call back is made. Should the telephone then be busy, a call is made to Telus to confirm that there is in fact someone on the line. The dispatch operator may then choose to break the line in an effort to conclude the investigation.

Last year, the operation communication centre (OCC) in Courtenay received a total of 66,244 911 calls, of which, 5,744 were abandoned. Over half (56.6%) of those abandoned calls were generated from mobile devices, as more and more people are primarily using wireless technology as their means of communication.

If you mistakenly dial 911, please stay on the line and simply tell the operator there is no emergency. The operator will appreciate you saving them the time. Additionally, pick up the phone when you receive a call back after accidentally dialing the emergency line. If you do not do this, dispatch will send a poilice officer to your location.

Tips to avoid/eliminate accidental dialing 911 include:

• Removing your mobile phones and wireless devices from your pockets while you are driving or are in your car to avoid accidental "pocket dialing".
• Locking your cellular phone when not in use, to avoid accidentally "pocket dialing"
• Removing 911 from your programmed speed dials -- mobile or land line.
• If you realize you have dialed 911 by accident, please call back to let an operator know there is no emergency.

If the telephone is found to be off the hook, a RCMP officer is sent to the scene immediately to investigate. If the dispatcher is at all suspicious about the call's nature, a RCMP officer will be sent to the scene to investigate.

It is very important to dial 911 only in the event of an emergency as fraudulent calls can cost lives.