The Owen Sound Police Service (OSPS) is proud to announce its participation in the inaugural provincewide campaign, When Every Second Counts, aimed at reducing the misuse of 9-1-1 services across Ontario. Led by the Emergency Services Steering Committee (ESSC), this initiative strives to raise public awareness about when to use emergency services and why it's critical to keep 9-1-1 lines open for real emergencies.

"Every second is critical in an emergency," said Chief Craig Ambrose of the Owen Sound Police Service. "Misusing 9-1-1 can delay response times for those in dire need. By joining this campaign, we aim to inform our community about the proper use of emergency services to ensure help is available when it truly matters."

Across Ontario, nearly half of all 9-1-1 calls are for non-emergencies, including accidental dials, hang-ups, and inquiries that do not require immediate assistance from police, fire, or emergency medical services. Such misuse can strain resources and impede timely responses to genuine emergencies.

In 2024, the Owen Sound Emergency Communications Centre (OSECC) received approximately 68,000 9-1-1 calls (an average of 184 per day). Of those calls, approximately 6,000 (or 9 per cent of the total) were unanswerable, which averages to about 16 unanswerable calls per day.

When to Call 9-1-1:

• Situations requiring immediate assistance from police, fire, or ambulance services
• Medical emergencies
• Fires
• Crimes in progress
• Serious vehicle collisions

Alternative Resources for Non-Emergencies:

• Owen Sound Police Non-Emergency Line: 519-376-1234
• Health Connect Ontario: 811 or 1-866-797-0000
• Mental Health Support: 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
• Municipal Services: Visit the City of Owen Sound’s Bylaw Complaints Online Portal

If you accidentally dial 9-1-1, do not hang up. Stay on the line and inform the operator that the call was unintentional. Hanging up can prompt emergency responders to dispatch services to your location to ensure safety.

For more information about the When Every Second Counts campaign and resources on proper emergency call usage, visit www.wheneverysecondcounts.ca.