You Could be Preventing a Rescue: Auto Club, CHP Warn About Accidental 911 Calls

    LOS ANGELES--Oct. 22, 2002--The 911 emergency response system is severely overloaded by people who don't even realize they're dialing 911 and clogging a vitally needed service.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California and the California Highway Patrol are warning the public that accidental 911 calls from wireless phones can cause life-threatening delays for true emergencies.
    Many wireless phones are equipped with a single-button 911 dialing feature that causes approximately 48,000 accidental emergency calls each month just to the CHP's Los Angeles communications center.
    Because only one button is required to dial 911 on these phones, people can inadvertently call an emergency dispatcher simply by bumping the phone while it's on their belt or dropping it in their purse. Often, consumers don't realize they have this single-button feature on their phones.
    The Auto Club and the CHP are airing a commercial about these 911 non-emergencies, which will appear on Southern California television stations over the next few weeks.
    "Any wireless phone caller who dials 911 while on a state or interstate highway is automatically routed to the CHP, so our communications centers are already stretched to capacity with incoming calls," said Chief Mike Brown, the CHP's Southern Division commander.
    "When almost 40 percent of the incoming calls are accidental, as they are now, we run the risk of not being there for someone in a real emergency."
    The CHP and the Auto Club are urging consumers to disable their single-button 911 feature. "If you find yourself in an emergency, dialing 911 will take about the same amount of time as pressing the single button," said Arline Dillman, the Auto Club's traffic safety manager.
    "When a substantial number of people take this simple step of disabling the 911 button, then the emergency response system will be far more effective in assisting those in need of help."
    The Auto Club advises wireless phone users to read their owner's manual or contact their wireless service provider to find out how to disable their single-button 911. Also, those shopping for a new cell phone should consider a folding "clamshell" type that prevents accidental dialing.
    "Cell phones do have a vital role in emergencies because they allow us to call for help immediately," Dillman said. "We hope this public service campaign will enable people to get the help they need when they need it by reducing the number of accidental calls."

    Note to TV Editors: A Beta SP version of this commercial can be provided by messenger or FedEx on request.