The annual list of the province’s most unusual 911 calls has been unveiled by British Columbia’s emergency service operator, urging residents to reserve emergency lines for genuine emergencies only.
E-comm, the 911 service operator, emphasized that contacting 911 for issues like disputes with stores, airline fines, or broken appliances is inappropriate. The purpose of releasing the top 10 unusual calls is to stress the importance of keeping emergency lines free for those in urgent need of police, fire, or ambulance assistance. Call takers are trained to treat every call as an emergency until proven otherwise.
Some of the peculiar calls received by E-comm included instances where the emergency line was misused, prompting the need for public awareness and responsible usage of 911 services.
Carly Paice, Communications Manager at E-comm, commended the majority of British Columbians for using 911 responsibly and emphasized the importance of feeling confident when seeking help during emergencies.
The service also offered guidelines on the proper use of 911, advising individuals to call only in situations where immediate action is required to protect someone’s health or safety. It’s crucial to stay on the line and explain if an accidental call is made to 911.
Bailey Mitchell, a call taker, highlighted the significance of not overwhelming emergency lines with non-urgent queries, emphasizing that every second spent on trivial matters could be vital in a life-threatening situation.