911 on a cell phone  © Can Stock Photo / daisydaisy911 on a cell phone © Can Stock Photo / daisydaisy
Windsor

Windsor police report increase in accidental 911 calls

If you have an Android cell phone, Windsor police are asking you to check your settings.

Police say since a recent update by Android of cell phones, there has been an increase in accidental 911 calls.

Since accidental calls tend to tie up resources at the 911 communications centre, Windsor police are asking people with Android phones to be mindful.

"We ask the public to familiarize themselves with the settings on their mobile devices that have the ability to dial 911," read a tweet from Windsor police.

The OPP has also reported 911 hang-up calls at its call centres.

"You could easily dial 911 without knowing," read a tweet from the OPP. "Please, check your phone. Ensure 911 lines are available for life-threatening emergencies."

While accidental calls have happened due to pocket or "butt" dialing, police say the emergency call feature can be triggered by holding down the power button or any of the side buttons.

To reduce the risk of calling 911 accidentally, Android users should go to the settings on their phone, locate "Emergency SOS", then turn off the SOS switch.

A life-threatening emergency is defined by law enforcement as any situation where life or property is immediately threatened.

If you do dial 911 accidentally, stay on the line and tell the dispatcher a mistake has been made. Dispatchers are required to follow through on all 911 calls, even unintentional ones, and those can take resources away from someone who needs help. By telling the dispatcher you called accidentally, they can clear it.

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File photo courtesy of  © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks

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