Facts About 9-1-1

Hamilton Police Service has an Enhanced 9-1-1 System, so when you call 9-1-1 from a wire line (residence/business/pay phone) BELL information will automatically be provided: name (residence or business), address, telephone number and type of line (residence, business, public).  The location displayed may not be where the emergency is.  The operator will ask you to state the location of the emergency.

  • When you call 9-1-1 from a wireless line (cellular phone) you will have to tell the operator your location. 
     
  • Many cellular providers have an enhanced wireless service which allows the 9-1-1 operator to receive your cellular telephone number, GPS coordinates and/or the tower location that the cellular phone is transmitting from.  This only provides the 9-1-1 operator with a rough guideline as to your location and therefore, you will still have to tell the operator your specific location.
     
  • Some wireless carriers have a 9-1-1 auto dial feature programmed into their cellular telephones. If you accidentally press and hold the pre-programmed keys, your phone calls 9-1-1. This ties up valuable time while emergency operators attempt to determine whether you have an emergency, which may prevent a true emergency call from getting through. Check your owner's manual to see if there is a 9-1-1 automatic dial and deactivate the feature.
     
  • If you called 9-1-1 in error, don’t hang up!  If the 9-1-1 operator does not get someone on the line, they treat it as an emergency.  Stay on the line and tell the operator that you made a mistake.
     
  • 9-1-1 is “called party controlled”.  Unlike regular phone calls where the line is disconnected when the caller hangs up, the line remains connected when you call 9-1-1 until the 9-1-1 operator releases the line.
  • If you get a recording when you dial 9-1-1, do not hang up.  You are in a queue and if you hang up you will leave the queue.
     
  • Teach your children about 9-1-1.  They should know when and when not to use it.
     
  • All cellular phones can call 9-1-1 regardless of whether they are active.  If you give your child an old cellular phone, it is capable of dialing 9-1-1.  An emergency operator will use up valuable time attempting to locate the “emergency caller”, possibly preventing a true emergency call from getting through.   Please ensure that if you give your child an old cellular phone to play with, that you remove the battery from the device to avoid accidental 9-1-1 calls.