Although there have been fewer 911 pocket dials recently, the OPP says they continue to be a problem.
Between January and September 2016, the Bancroft OPP received 165 non-emergency 911 phone calls, some of which were pocket dials. Across all OPP detachments, more than 2,000 pocket dials were received last year.
Constable Philippe Regamey says 911 pocket dials are a risk to public safety because police have to respond to every call they receive.
Because of the ongoing problem of 911 pocket dials, the OPP has launched the #KnowWhenToCall social media campaign. The goal is to educate the public about the risks of accidentally calling 911.
Regamey says there are steps you can take to avoid a 911 pocket dial.
The OPP recommends also turning off 911 auto-dial features on your phone, and not programming the number into your speed dial. If you do accidentally call 911, you are being asked to stay on the line to let emergency operators know everything is alright.