Local police, fire, and ambulance services are a quick dial away using 9-1-1, a necessity during emergencies, but many people forget these services are available outside of emergencies by using non-emergency numbers - like they were before the advent of 9-1-1.
The Manitoulin detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wants to remind residents in the Greater Sudbury and Manitoulin areas that 9-1-1 is for emergency calls only.
An emergency is "any situation that requires immediate assistance, when the safety of people or property is at risk," stated a release from the OPP.
A crime in progress, a motor vehicle collision, a fire, or a medical emergency are examples cited by the police.
When 9-1-1 is dialed, police services must respond to verify there is no actual emergency, taking away vital manpower from those who may require them.
"9-1-1 is not intended to be used as a number that is convenient for those who will not take the time to look up the (non-emergency) number for the OPP, fire or ambulance service," stated the release.
The OPP also remind people to not program 9-1-1 into the phone, and to teach children that the phone is not a toy and that 9-1-1 should never be dialed in "pretend games."
Information about road closures and conditions is provided by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). The MTO can be reached at 1-800-268-4686.
Non-Emergency Numbers
- Greater Sudbury Police
- 675-9171
- Sudbury Fire Services
- 671-2489
- Ontario Provincial Police
- 1-888-310-1122
- Sudbury OPP Detachment
- 564-6900
- Manitoulin OPP Detachment
- 859-3155
- Ambulance
- 671-2489
