Don’t Forget to Take Out the Battery!

Kids love cell phones. They have tons of buttons, can make fun sounds, watch videos and even play games. So it comes as no surprise that small children would love to play with an old phone you might not be using anymore. While this might seem harmless, since the phone is no longer in service, it can actually be a major issue for 9-1-1.

What many people might not know is that even when a phone is disconnected from service, it can still dial 9-1-1 for an emergency as long as the battery has some charge to it. 9-1-1 telecommunicators receive numerous calls a day from disconnected phones that accidentally dial 9-1-1. The problem with these accidental 9-1-1 calls is that they tie up the phone lines making real emergency calls harder for telecommunicators to get to.

A while back, Longmont, Colorado produced a video PSA reminding people to take out the battery. This cute video reminds folks that while phones can be fun for kids to play with, it is important to remove the battery before allowing the children to play with the phone. That way, no accidental 9-1-1 calls are made. Check out the video below!

And remember, if you aren’t using an old cell phone anymore, please take out the battery. Or better yet, donate the phone to a local shelter or charity that can provide these phones with people who need them.