Duane Hicks
Be careful about accidentally dialing 9-1-1.
The local OPP detachment has been getting too many accidental 9-1-1 calls due to “pocket dialing,” Mayor Roy Avis said at last night’s town council meeting.
As such, the Police Services Board is asking the public to take extra care with their mobile phones.
“They’ve been getting a tremendous number of 9-1-1 calls and it’s from either kids playing with their mother or dad’s phone or, if they have them activated the right way, sometimes it dials 9-1-1 in the pocket,” Mayor Avis noted.
He said 9-1-1 lines are for emergencies only and often are a person’s lifeline for urgent assistance.
Accidentally dialing 9-1-1 ties up emergency lines and result in an officer being dispatched to determine the location of the caller, whether or not assistance is required, the mayor added.
“It really puts them in a bad situation sometimes when there’s more important issues they should be dealing with,” Mayor Avis stressed, noting that wasting the police’s time also is wasting taxpayer money.
In order to reduce 9-1-1 “pocket dials,” the OPP is asking people to carry their cellphone in a holster and/or making sure the keypad is locked.
Police also urge people not to make 9-1-1 part of their programmed auto-dialing.
With so many types of cellphones and accessories available, people are encouraged to read their user manual or contact their cellphone provider to find out what options are available to “pocket dial-proof” their phone
The OPP define an emergency as any situation in which the safety of people or property is at risk and requires immediate assistance.
These include a crime in progress, a medical emergency, or a fire.
Using 9-1-1 in these situations is the fastest way to get assistance.
For non-emergency calls, dial 1-888-310-1122.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•held a public meeting to garner public input on its strategic plan (Diane Maxey of the Assisted Living Action Group spoke to council, which also received numerous written submissions);
•heard verbal reports on board and committee activities from Couns. John Albanese, Wendy Brunetta, and June Caul;
•approved a request from the Heart & Stroke Foundation to declare a “National Health & Fitness Day” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•referred a request to plant trees on a town easement to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a financial request from Jennifer Greenhalgh, chairperson of the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival committee, to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation; and
•passed a bylaw to authorize a licence agreement with Rainy River District School Board (joint agreement) for geospatial data.
