Tuesday, August 4, 2009

911 Info

If you call 911 by mistake, DON'T HANG UP before we verify that you are okay! If you don't stay on the line you may get a surprise visit from your local police department. Most police have protocols that require a response on hang ups and abandoned calls. Some may call you back, some may send an officer. You may be able to avoid a visit if you just stay on the line! Even if you hang up before you hear it ring, the 911 lines are designed to recognize and connect those calls. So please STAY ON THE LINE if you dial 911 by mistake!
Posted by at

6 comments:

  1. Old NFOAugust 4, 2009 at 11:50 PM

    Excellent point! I had to do 911 checks on phones for the University after a major upgrade and 911 database reload, worked it out with the Shift Supe and spent two @#&*( days calling 911.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The BumblesAugust 4, 2009 at 11:56 PM

    Andy has dialed 911 by accident...TWICE! The first time, he was trying to call WZLX to request a song and instead of 931 he hit 911. He didn't hang up but instead explained his error, but they still sent a car over to our apt. lickety split and made me come to the door to prove I was OK and not abused or some such thing. I guess because we weren't married at the time and both our names were on the phone/lease? It left me feeling comforted to know our local authorities could get there so fast and would be so thorough. Andy just felt like the dummy that he was.

    The second time he was actually on the road and trying call me to check in. He mis-dialed and hung up before realizing the error. He was surprised by cops at his hotel room door and sheepishly explained the situation. Somehow I think rotary would be easier than push button for him ;0)

    ReplyDelete
  3. AlisonAugust 5, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    Jim- we deal with your ~sort~ all the time (lol)! One would think that after hearing the 911 phone ring for the gazillionth time you would become immune to the sound, but you don't. Each time, even though you are 99% sure it's just a tech working on the system that's calling, you still get that "feeling" in your gut!

    Molly - I was told in training that most police departments send a follow up officer to the scene. I don't know of any departments here on the Cape that don't. Where I work, no hang up or abandoned call is ever left without a follow-up visit. You would be surprised how many people call 911 in error. Some get confused and think we are 411! The need to check each call is very clear... as you pointed out... anything could be happening out there... better to check and make sure everything is okay, than to regret not sending help when it was needed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. BuckAugust 5, 2009 at 3:12 PM

    I made my first 911 call ever last Saturday night. I was surprised to see I had to press star-pound to disconnect... and Sprint provides an on-screen message about "911 calls are ONLY for emergencies." I never knew... but then again, I'd never used it.

    BTW... the response was just SUPER from my local authorities, and very professional.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Old NFOAugust 6, 2009 at 1:18 AM

    FF- Agree! Thanks for what you do!

    ReplyDelete
  6. SuldogAugust 7, 2009 at 3:14 PM

    Thank God they DO come when a hang-up or disconnect occurs! Seems like pure common sense, to me. Could be a stroke victim, a murder, anything.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)