The Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office recently released information to advise residents, as 911 dispatch centers across the state are experiencing a large increase in accidental calls.

Android and iPhones that have crash detection and emergency SOS features have the potential to trigger false 911 calls. For Android phones, this can be controlled by tapping on the Safety App, followed by the “features” tab. There, users can monitor their Car Crash Detection settings. On an iPhone, the emergency SOS feature is found in the Settings App. Those who keep these settings on are encouraged to leave the phone in a safe place or activate airplane mode when engaging in high-movement activities, such as skiing or amusement park rides.

Parents and guardians are reminded that old or inactive phones can still call 911 if they are charged and turned on. Kids using them as a “play phone” could lead to accidental calls. In the event that a person’s phone makes a false 911 call, they are reminded to stay on the line and tell the dispatcher a mistake was made. There is no penalty or charge. If a caller hangs up, dispatch will call back to ensure there is no emergency.