B.C. 9-1-1 centres blame smartphone feature for increase in dropped calls
Posted May 18, 2023 5:04 pm.
Last Updated May 18, 2023 5:05 pm.
Emergency call centres in B.C. are reporting an increase in abandoned 9-1-1 calls, blaming it on a feature on Android smartphones.
Mounties are asking people to keep an eye on their phones to ensure they aren’t engaging the ‘Emergency SOS’ feature, which lets people start a 9-1-1 call by pressing the power button five times or more and waiting for five seconds.
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Police ask accidental callers to stay on the line with dispatchers so they can make sure you’re safe and not in any immediate danger. If it is an accident, the BC RCMP says relaying that information and answering the dispatcher’s questions is an important part of the process.
“Most often, users don’t even realize the Emergency SOS has been activated and a call is made to 911,” said Supt. Mike Bhatti.
“These dropped and abandoned calls take time and resources away from actual emergencies.”
In a release issued Thursday afternoon, Mounties gave some instructions on how to turn off the Android ‘Emergency SOS’ feature:
- Go to the settings app on your phone
- Click on the Safety and Emergency section
- Slide the toggle to turn the Emergency SOS feature off
