It seems some folks in Atlanta might be a bit too casual about what constitutes an emergency. The local police have their hands full – not with crime-fighters – but with fast food enthusiasts dialing 911 for their culinary cravings. In a recent incident, a call for some hot wings clogged up emergency lines meant for real crises. "I'm on the street, I was just wondering if someone could order me some hot wings," said a caller to a 911 operator. A Facebook video from the Atlanta Police Department captures this bizarre exchange, according to Atlanta News First.
But these culinary calls to action are no rarity in Atlanta, where another individual dialed in to complain about, not a cat burglar, but an actual smelly cat. “I'm calling because the cat got the house smelling bad ma’am," the caller explained to a perplexed dispatcher. Desiree Arnold, the Executive Director of Atlanta E911, ushered a reminder, "People have been told for decades to just call 911, and that is not the answer," in a statement obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta. Arnold's crew fields around 3,700 calls daily, the majority of which turn out to be non-emergencies.
Despite these non-urgent calls, statistics suggest improvements in response times. Callers now wait an average of 14 seconds to connect with 911, hitting that mark 82% of the time. However with 911 calls spiking by 14% from last year, Arnold stresses the importance of using 311 for situations that don't involve life or limb. Atlanta's E911 center juggled 1.3 million calls last year, yet less than 4% were deemed urgent, the Fox 5 Atlanta report details.
In light of these figures, the department is dialing up public awareness with "Make the Right Call," a campaign designed to educate the public on proper 911 usage. The Atlanta Police Department's post ends on a lighter note, with an unmistakable nudge: “So, next time you're craving some hot wings, remember: dial up your favorite restaurant, not 911.” The post goes on to beckon Atlantians to, “Let's keep those emergency lines sizzling for the real deals. Stay safe, Atlanta,” as mentioned by Atlanta News First. If only the misuse of emergency services could vanish as swiftly as a plate of hot wings at a football watch party.
