As a police call-taker, Kuzivakwashe Mujakachi approaches every incoming call as an emergency 香蕉视频直播� because they usually are.
When someone calls about a neighbour香蕉视频直播檚 chicken, Mujakachi doesn香蕉视频直播檛 get frustrated, instead promptly seeing an opportunity to educate.
Mujakachi related the farm animal story as part of a larger educational campaign launched by E-Comm at the end of each year. The emergency call-taking agency releases its Top 10 unusual 911 calls of 2024.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e handled many a very unusual call. My personal one didn香蕉视频直播檛 make it to the list this year香蕉视频直播� I had somebody calling in because they were very upset about their neighbour香蕉视频直播檚 chicken. It was doing a little too much in the morning, it was a little too loud and so they were very frustrated, which I can understand early mornings are not fun, but it香蕉视频直播檚 definitely not something for the 911 line,香蕉视频直播� Mujakachi said.
The Top 10 did include complaints about a dry cleaner, McDonalds, rotten avocados and domesticated-looking bunnies in the park.
Another neighbour complaint stands out for Mujakachi 香蕉视频直播� someone calling about their neighbour wearing too much cologne.
香蕉视频直播淚 can understand it香蕉视频直播檚 overwhelming香蕉视频直播� but it香蕉视频直播檚 definitely not a call for the 911 emergency line,香蕉视频直播� she said. The line is to direct resources for life-and-death emergencies 香蕉视频直播� whether medical or criminal in nature 香蕉视频直播� and crimes in progress.
香蕉视频直播淓very single second counts,香蕉视频直播� Mujakachi noted, 香蕉视频直播淵ou hear people say 香蕉视频直播榯hey got there just in time香蕉视频直播�. So imagine if there was a 10-second delay, those little seconds really, really count and I see this every day that I work here.香蕉视频直播�
For many, someone calling the emergency line about a power outage or seeking directions to a 24/7 Shoppers Drug Mart (both on the Top 10 this year) might be a source of frustration or even anger over misuse of the service.
香蕉视频直播淚 think we all have a very good understanding that nobody wants to call 911香蕉视频直播� nobody香蕉视频直播檚 having a great day when they have to call 911 so we don香蕉视频直播檛 get frustrated. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 occur to me to become angered by a caller,香蕉视频直播� Mujakachi said, seated in a corner cubicle at the Saanich emergency call centre.
The last day of 2024 starts quiet, with just murmurs coming from adjacent call-takers. It香蕉视频直播檚 frequently more noisy 香蕉视频直播� and likely to get busier as 2025 approaches. E-Comm handles about two million 911 calls per year over two sites, an average day for one call-taker can include 40 calls, some less necessary than others.
Four years in, it香蕉视频直播檚 a calling Mujakachi finds fulfills her purpose in life to be of 香蕉视频直播渟ervice before self香蕉视频直播�.
香蕉视频直播淲e are ready to help. I think our predisposition is just being ready to serve. Whether or not this person is maybe being abusive on the line or maybe calling me names on the line, I香蕉视频直播檓 still prepared to help.香蕉视频直播�
Tips for 911 use include knowing your location, not programming 911 into a phone, preventing accidental calls and staying on the line if you do call accidentally.
香蕉视频直播淚f you do call 911 and it is not an emergency, if it香蕉视频直播檚 a pocket dial or a mistake, stay on the line and let us know you are OK,香蕉视频直播� she said. That too can essentially become a nuisance call as the call-taker worries about the caller and their situation.
That said, Mujakachi emphasized that people shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 hesitate to call if they香蕉视频直播檙e unsure.
香蕉视频直播淥ne of the main things I will always vouch for is if you are unsure at all, please don香蕉视频直播檛 hesitate to use the 911 line. if you are unsure as to whether your emergency is a real emergency or not, we are trained to guide you correctly. So if you are not sure, I will be sure for you,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Advice to callers though: when the call-taker guides, go gracefully.
香蕉视频直播淚t can be a little challenging when somebody tries to argue their case to stay on the emergency line.香蕉视频直播�
Those looking to be prepared can visit nonemergency.ca to familiarize themselves with a list of alternate resources for reporting non-emergencies.
Top 10 list of 911 calls that shouldn't have been made in 2024
- Their neighbour was wearing too much cologne
- The dry cleaners stained their shirt
- McDonald香蕉视频直播檚 wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 open their doors
- They wanted directions to a 24/7 Shoppers Drug Mart
- Complaining the power was out
- Requesting technical support
- The box of 38 avocados they purchased were rotten
- They left their phone in an Uber
- Requesting help removing a wasp nest
- There was a domesticated-looking bunny in the park
