With Halloween just around the corner, emergency services are preparing for what’s expected to be a busy weekend as British Columbians take part in seasonal events and festivities.
Last Halloween, E-Comm saw a 17% spike in 9-1-1 calls compared to a typical weeknight evening. With October 31st falling on a Friday this year, even higher call volumes are anticipated.
“Halloween is always one of our busiest nights, so we’re asking everyone to help keep 9-1-1 lines free for real emergencies by using non-emergency numbers or online reporting for less urgent issues that don’t require immediate assistance from police, fire or ambulance,” says Carly Paice, E-Comm Communications Manager. “While first responders are busy on the ground, our call takers and dispatchers will be hard at work behind the scenes, connecting people with the help they need.”
E-Comm is preparing for a busy Halloween weekend by bringing in extra staff to help manage the anticipated spike in 9-1-1 calls.
The public play an essential role in helping us help, by learning when to call 9-1-1, understanding what to expect if you call, and knowing where to best direct less urgent situations through police non-emergency lines, online crime reporting, city services, or other resources.
How to make the right call this Halloween
- Fireworks: To file a fireworks related complaint, first check the fireworks regulations in your area, and reach out to your area bylaw services or the police non-emergency line. Reports of fires, serious injuries, or an imminent public safety risk due to fireworks would be a 9-1-1 call.
- Halloween decorations: If you notice that your inflatable pumpkin or life-size skeleton have gone missing from your front porch, but there’s no culprit in sight, file a police report online or call the non-emergency line.
- Noisy parties: Direct noise complaints to your local city bylaw services during their business hours, or police non-emergency line after hours.
- Suspicious activity: Help deter break-ins and vandalism by locking your vehicles and keeping valuables out of sight. To report crime or suspicious activity in progress (ie. a stranger trying to open car doors) call 9-1-1. Property crime reports with time delays can be reported through your local police non-emergency line.
- Road safety: Drivers are reminded to practice extra caution on the road this Halloween. To report dangerous driving behaviour such as suspected impaired driving or a collision involving injuries that requires immediate attention from police, fire or ambulance, call 9-1-1. Minor car accidents with no injuries can be reported to ICBC directly.
- Know your location: The fastest way for our call takers to connect you with help in an emergency is to provide your location. While “the haunted house down the road” won’t help – an exact address will! Landmarks and cross streets can also help us find you quicker.
- Prevent pocket dials: Lock and store your devices carefully. E-Comm receives hundreds of accidental calls every day. If you do call 9-1-1 by mistake, stay on the line and let us know you are safe.
Additional resources
- For a full list of online crime reporting tools and non-emergency numbers, visit nonemergency.ca
- Learn more about calling 9-1-1: ecomm911.ca/911-dispatch/tips-and-info/
Want to learn more? Follow @ecomm911_info on Instagram and X for live-updates from our call takers from 7:00pm-11:00pm on Friday, Oct. 31. Stay safe and Happy Halloween!
-30-
Media Assets
About E-Comm
E-Comm is the first point of contact for 9-1-1 callers in 25 regional districts in British Columbia and provides dispatch services for more than 70 police agencies and fire departments across the province. E‐Comm also owns and operates the largest multi‐jurisdictional, tri‐service, wide‐area radio network in the province used by police, fire and ambulance personnel throughout Metro Vancouver and parts of the Fraser Valley.
Media contact
E-Comm
604-215-6248
[email protected]