Skinny parking stall, bad hair style lead annual list of improper 911 calls

VANCOUVER — The agency that handles almost every call to police, fire or ambulance in British Columbia has released its annual list of bad reasons to dial 911.

The list from E-Comm is lighthearted, but officials say it also highlights an alarming trend where some callers know they aren’t facing an emergency and choose to call 911 anyway.

Emergency call taker Chelsea Brent said she handles many requests where the first words from the caller are “I know this isn’t an emergency.”

Brent took the call that tops the 2019 list: a complaint that a hotel parking spot was too small.

The second most egregious nuisance call was from a person upset about their hair style after visiting a beauty salon.

Other improper calls include concerns about late-night vacuuming, an order that police dig a car out of deep snow, a request for details about water restrictions and a caller demanding that loud officers dealing with an emergency should instead return in the morning.

Brent said she feels that some have forgotten 911 should only be used in life-or-death situations.

“When I’m answering calls that aren’t an emergency, it means I’m not available for someone else who really does need critical help.”

Jasmine Bradley, E-Comm corporate communications manager, said the calls may seem absurd on the surface, but each must be investigated, and the person directed elsewhere.

“That takes time away from helping those in crisis,” she said.

E-Comm is responsible for 99 per cent of the province’s 911 call volume and handled more than 1.6 million calls this year.