UP TO 1/3 OF ALL 911 CALLS IN THE U.S. ARE FROM CELL PHONES THAT HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED, JARRED, OR SAT ON.
Without meaning to, people tie up 9-1-1 lines unnecessarily with their cell phones because they have not used their keypad protector. Over 28% of all cell phone calls to 911 centers are accidental or "phantom calls".
We have no way to tell if a 9-1-1 call is a legitimate emergency or an accidentally bumped cell phone. Oftentimes we must put callers on hold to answer other incoming lines. It is frustrating, to say the least, to hear a casual conversation coming through a bumped cell phone.
For each and every call we must stay on the line long enough to determine whether the call is a true emergency or is just a bumped cell phone. This usually takes 5-15 seconds, which may not sound like a long time, but it is an eternity to a person with a legitimate emergency who is on hold waiting for us to sort out a call from a bumped cell phone!!
A few seconds...Big Deal?? You bet is!! If there is a weapon involved, or if your loved one is not breathing, 5-15 seconds IS a big deal! IT COULD COST A LIFE! MAYBE YOURS!!
PLEASE PLEASE!!! USE YOUR KEYPAD PROTECTOR!!
Better yet, take 9-1-1 out of your pre-programming.
Let's face it, preprogramming a 3 digit number does not save a lot of time.
Help save a life! Take out your pre-programmed 9-1-1 !! Use your keypad protector!!
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