Accidental 911 call? Don’t hang up – here’s what to do instead

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Calling 911 is something many have had to do in an emergency, but what is the right move if the call is accidental?

Hanging up is considered the worst option.

“If you dial 911 by mistake…do not hang up,” says the official 911.gov website . Their advice is to explain to the call-taker what happened.

But what if an accidental 911 call is hung up before it is answered? The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office says it is standard protocol for dispatchers to return any 911 hangup calls.

“We need to ensure that the person is safe,” said Tony Botti with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. “This helps us to rule out an emergency where maybe their call got disconnected for some reason or someone is forcing the person to hang up.”

Botti adds that, if needed, law enforcement may be sent to check on the person – even if they say they are all right.

“Our message to the public is to always stay on the line if it is an accidental dial.”

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office also suggests locking the phone’s home screen, or even carrying a cellphone in a holster, to make sure it does not accidentally call 911.

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