If you accidentally call SOS, do not hang up; stay on the line, wait for the operator to answer, and calmly explain it was a mistake, saying you don't need help, to prevent unnecessary emergency dispatch. If you hang up, they may call back, and explaining it was an accident is best to clear the line. You can also cancel the countdown on smartphones by releasing buttons before it ends, but a notification might still go out.
If you are safe and able to respond, advise the agent that you are not experiencing an emergency and the agent will end the call . If there is no verbal response from the vehicle's occupants, the operator will dispatch emergency personnel to the vehicle location.
The SOS Emergency Assistance button is designed for use in emergency situations only. If you press the button accidentally in a non-emergency situation, the emergency response specialist will ask you to confirm that emergency services are not required.
To do so, follow the steps below.
If you accidentally dial 911, from your home or cell phone, stay on the line and tell the Communications Staff what happened. If you hang up, we will call you back and that could tie up a line for someone who needs it. If you do hang up, pick up the phone when we call you back. Do not worry, you will not be in trouble.
Stay on the line and simply tell the dispatcher that you called by accident and that everything is okay. If you hang up instead, the dispatcher is required to call you back to determine whether or not you had an emergency.
If you choose to disable the Emergency SOS feature on your device to prevent accidental calls, check the user manual, the manufacturer's website, or call the service provider to determine whether your device has this feature and how to turn it off.
Stop Making Accidental Emergency Calls on Android
So please remember, if you or your child accidently calls 999 – don't hang up! Speak to the Call Handler and let them know it was just a mistake, they won't be annoyed or angry, you will be helping them by letting them know officers aren't needed.
If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, your device isn't connected to your cellular network, but you can still make emergency calls through other carrier networks.
Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite was launched in the US and Canada in November 2022, and extended to Australia and New Zealand in May 2023.
Individual 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) have estimated that between 25 and 70% of their wireless calls are unintentional, clogging up their phone lines and risking their ability to respond to real emergencies. Here's how the problem occurs and what you can do to avoid making an accidental 9-1-1 call.
There are certain instances where 911 call centers can contact Verizon and AT&T, give them your phone number, and attempt to locate your phone. However even if they can locate it, the address likely won't be 100 percent accurate, and there will still be a search radius. It also isn't possible to track every phone.
Scenario: You accidentally press the emergency call button or dial 9-1-1 by mistake. What to Do: Remain on the line and inform the call taker that it was a misdial. They will confirm that everything is okay and end the call.
Use Control Center to turn Do Not Disturb on or off
Often, the easiest fix is to restart your device. This will likely get you out of SOS mode.
Some iPhones have an option to switch between networks, which may trigger SOS mode if the phone fails to connect to a new network. To prevent this: Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options, and check if automatic switching is on. Turning it off might help stabilize the connection.
If you accidentally call 911, do not hang up the phone. Stay on the line and tell the operator what happened. The operator will need to know exactly where you are so the police can verify that the 911 call was accidental.
If you see SOS or "SOS only" in the status bar, this feature allows you to still make emergency calls when not connected to a cellular network. If you are seeing SOS or "SOS only" without any noticable cause such as: This is not a new activation.