New 9 1 1 campaign urges citizens to 'Make the Right Call'

Edmonton Police Service > Newsroom > Media Releases > New 9-1-1 campaign urges citizens to "Make the Right Call"

New 9-1-1 campaign urges citizens to "Make the Right Call"

In 2023, ECOMB received approximately 648,000 phone calls to 9-1-1, 32 per cent of which were classified as non-emergency. Since 2021, the number of non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 has increased by 49 per cent.

"Non-emergency calls to 9-1-1 tie up resources and can delay response to real emergencies where every second counts," says Kalie Anderson, Director of ECOMB. "In the moment, events can feel like an emergency, but if it isn't a crime in progress or a situation where life, safety, or property is in immediate danger, it's not a phone call to 9-1-1."

Non-emergency events can be reported to a variety of other services as appropriate, including 2-1-1, 3-1-1, 9-8-8 or the EPS non-emergency line.

"Our ECOs field countless non-emergency calls, everything from children playing with a cell phone and mistakenly calling 9-1-1 to complaints about restaurant service and long waits in fast-food lines," says Anderson. "It may sound comical, but they have serious implications to emergency response times."

Another growing issue is the number of callers who hang-up on ECOs, sometimes due to high call volume or because they have accidentally dialed 9-1-1. ECOs are required to call back all hang-ups regardless of the situation. To prevent tying up police resources any further, callers should stay on the line, even if the call was a mistake.

Last year alone ECOs were required to call back roughly nine per cent of callers due to hang-ups.

For more information visit 911MakeTheRightCall.ca