911 NEEDS YOUR HELP

PLEASE HELP 911 GET THIS MESSAGE OUT TO THE PUBLIC

ACCIDENTAL 911 calls have increased to the point where they are starting to overload our 911 emergency dispatch system.  Each day in Alsip, dozens of calls made to 911 from wireless cell phones are caused by accidental dialing.  Accidental 911 calls are causing a disruption of service for the 911 system.  These calls tie up the 911 system, blocking real emergency calls from getting through.  The calls also tie up the 911 call takers, so they are not available to answer real emergency calls.  Wireless phones can easily dial 911 without the phone's owner even being aware that the 911 call has been made. Accidental 911 calls are made when the phone is put in a pocket or a purse, and gets bumped.  Another problem is that some adults give their old wireless phone to children to play with. Even phones with no wireless service have the ability to dial 911

PREVENT A CRISIS by educating the public.  The Alsip Police Department is asking each person who owns a wireless cell phone to do their part to help solve this problem by following 3 easy steps:

           1.  LOCK your keypad.

           2.  TURN OFF the 911 auto dial feature (not all cell phones have this feature).

           3.  DO NOT PROGRAM 911 into your speed dial.

THANK YOU!