When should you NOT call 911?

When Not to Call 911

The 911 emergency system is a crucial lifeline designed exclusively for urgent situations where immediate help is needed to save a life, stop a crime, or report a dangerous fire. Knowing when not to dial this number is just as important as knowing when to use it, as non-urgent calls can dangerously delay responses for people facing actual life-or-death crises.

You should never call 911 for routine administrative questions, such as asking for general directions, looking up phone numbers for local government agencies, or trying to contact a specific police officer, sheriff's deputy, or firefighter for non-emergency matters. For these types of inquiries, always look up the local non-emergency directory listing for your area.

Additionally, households must keep disconnected or old mobile phones out of the hands of young children. Even without an active cellular plan, devices can frequently still dial 911, resulting in accidental pocket dials and false alarms that unnecessarily tie up emergency dispatchers.