Child Calls 911 44 Times on Old Cellular Phone
THUNDER BAY – What do you do with your old cellular phone? Often those phones can be handed off to a child as a game device, or an MP3 player. However they are also still usable as telephones for calling 911 in an emergency. In Grande Prairie Alberta, RCMP have seen a recent increase in false 911 calls from wireless devices that are no longer in service but still have the ability to make emergency calls via 911.
On September 23rd alone, one child generated 44 false 911 calls to police. This was a result of a deactivated phone being given to a child so it could be used as a stand alone device.
The RCMP want parents to be aware that although cellular phones are no longer in service that if the phone has a battery and power is being supplied to the device that it is very easy for a 911 call to be made.
Subsequently, each 911 call results in a file being created and an investigation being conducted to ensure that there is no emergency and that no one is in distress. Obviously, this takes resources away from other matters in the community.
The RCMP are asking that if a deactivated or decommissioned phone is given to a child that they take the necessary steps to ensure that the child does not use the emergency contact button or is closely monitored to ensure that they are not using the phone application to inadvertently contact 911.
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