If you call 911, you can’t be moved to the system in another city. That will not be repaired till 2025. In the meantime, lives are at stake.
Released Jul 17, 2023 – Last upgraded 2 hours ago – 3 minute checked out
I have a relative in Toronto who sent me end-of-life text throughout the pandemic and does so to this day. The pressure and pressure had actually reached that level for my relative.
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If you remained in my position, here in Ottawa, your very first idea would be to call 911 and demand to be moved to the Toronto 911 service. Shockingly, in 2023, your call can not be moved.
I’ve spoken at an Ottawa Council committee about 911. Here are some fascinating truths from the 911 yearly report for 2021 and 2022. Efficiency levels for 911 in Ottawa consist of:
“1. That a minimum variety of 9-1-1 call takers are on responsibility at all times.
“2. The variety of call takers is changed according to call volume need.
“3. That 97 percent of all calls be responded to within 6 seconds from the time a call is gotten.”
I duplicate: In an emergency situation, 97 percent of calls ought to be responded to within 6 seconds. The obstacle for those who remain in this city however knowledgeable about an emergency situation in another city is that you are directed to call that town’s non-emergency line.
What does this indicate? It suggests that when it comes to my relative, I needed to call Toronto Police non-emergency and wait on hold for somebody to address my call. The very first time I needed to do this, I was on hold for an hour-and-a-half. I have actually needed to do this numerous times, consisting of on New Year’s Eve, 2022, when I was on hold for more than 2 hours.
The CRTC has actually mandated that Next Generation 911, or NG-911, be executed throughout Canada by 2025. With NG-911, individuals can text in case of an emergency situation. Since today, the closest service to that in Ottawa is Unsafe At Home Ottawa (unsafeathomeottawa.ca). It is important for those in violent relationships who can not get the phone and call for assistance.
Individuals ought to have the ability to text for immediate emergency situation services in 2023 however, shockingly, can not.
NG 911 will likewise make sure that the 911 dispatch centres run in a digital environment, not simply the analogue systems they presently utilize, which they can likewise accept images and video.
With NG-911 upgrades not being mandated till March 2025, buddies and households will be in exceptionally demanding circumstances as the psychological health and dependency crisis continues to increase.
Individuals have actually sent me personal messages on social networks stating they have actually experienced the very same issues I have. One specified that in a time of severe emergency situation in Sault Ste. Marie, they were stunned to find they might not be moved from Ottawa and discovered themselves desperate to overcome a phone-tree system looking for instant assistance for a liked one.
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