Photo: Abby Zieverink/EverythingGP, staff)

By Abby Zieverink

Tips when calling 911

Grande Prairie RCMP share Do’s and Don’t when calling 911

Apr 10, 2022 | 5:00 AM

The Grande Prairie RCMP are providing tips if you’re planning on calling 911.

This includes when to call 911, what to expect once the call is going through and what to avoid when phoning 911.

Sgt. Shawn Graham with the Grande Prairie RCMP says knowing when to dial 911 is crucial as you should only ever call when there is an emergency.

“When someone’s life is in danger, when there’s a crime in progress which for example could be a fight, a theft, or a break and enter or a dangerous driver on the roadway or a collision with injuries, that would be a time or a situation someone should call 911.”

Once 911 is called, an operator will answer and ask a few questions, including where you are located.

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“If you don’t know the location, maybe just provide a landmark or any sort of information that will help them identify where you are, maybe the intersection or something that’s going to happen,” he added.

Graham explains it’s essential to let the 911 operator take control of the conversation and answer the questions to the best of your knowledge.

“If its possible, stay calm, stay where you are unless it’s a dangerous situation, and the operator will get police or emergency ambulance or fire to come to the scene, to help with the situation,” said Graham.

Do not use text messaging to call 911 and do not program 911 into any telephone as it may lead to accidental calls, explains Graham.

He adds that if someone does call 911 by mistake, it’s important to not hang up, and explain to the operator it was a mistake, and there is no emergency.

“If someone does hang up, we are going to have to confirm that there is no emergency so we will go to where the call originated from to ensure there is no emergency,” explained Graham.

“911 will call that number back to make sure that there is no emergency going on and if they are not getting anyone to answer, they are going to let us know to make sure there is no emergency.”