KENORA – The Kenora Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reminding citizens to use 911 for its intended purpose only, to report emergencies.
Accidental calls or abuse of 911 ties up emergency lines, communicators and officers which could result in the slower response to a real emergency, risking the safety of people who may need urgent help.
911 is for major emergencies only and is meant to report issues in which life or property is immediately threatened. 911 should not be called for general incidents, but strictly for emergency situations.
Children should also be taught the responsible use of 911, and that cellphones are not toys. Do not give your child an old cellphone to play with, even if there’s no battery or SIM card. The removal of a SIM card from a cell phone still enables the device to call 911, and cell users are encouraged to learn about how their devices can be locked to prevent accidental pocket dials and not have 911 on speed dial.
To report a non-emergent incident to police, citizens are asked to contact the Thunder Bay Communications Centre at 1-888-310-1122.
