With Halloween festivities approaching, E-Comm 9-1-1 is asking the public to help keep emergency lines clear for serious situations as call volumes are expected to surge across British Columbia.
Last Halloween, 9-1-1 centres saw a 17 percent increase in calls, and with October 31st falling on a Friday this year, E-Comm anticipates even higher volumes. Extra staff will be scheduled throughout the weekend to help manage the spike.
E-Comm urges people to reserve 9-1-1 for life-threatening or time-sensitive emergencies and to use non-emergency numbers or online reporting for less urgent issues. Fireworks complaints, noise disturbances, and stolen Halloween decorations should go through local bylaw offices or police non-emergency lines.
The organization is also reminding British Columbians to know their exact location when calling for help, drive carefully as children trick-or-treat, and take steps to prevent accidental pocket dials.
If you do call 9-1-1 by mistake, stay on the line and let the dispatcher know you’re safe — hanging up can delay response times.
