79 false 911 calls keep police busy over the long weekend: OPP

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is reminding residents to lock their phones after 79 false 911 calls were made over the weekend.

Huronia West OPP says between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to 273 calls for service. They say nearly a third of those calls were preventable and unintentional 911 calls.

“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,” said OPP in a news release. “With every unintentional call received, precious seconds may be taken away from someone who really needs help.”

Police have offered the following tips to help prevent pocket dialing 911.

• 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 programming a wireless device/landline phone to ‘speed dial’ 911.
• If you have a smartwatch that is synced to your phone, ensure the auto call feature is turned off.