Yesterday, the Bowser administration unveiled a campaign titled "Make the Right Call," a program designed to better inform the public about proper 911 usage. Mayor Muriel Bowser, alongside the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) Director Heather McGaffin, stressed the importance of keeping the emergency line open for real crises. "We are asking residents and visitors to help us keep the 911 system available for emergencies," Mayor Bowser stated in an announcement captured by DC.gov. The initiative comes as a response to the OUC handling over a million calls in Fiscal Year 2024, with nearly a quarter being non-emergencies.
OUC's "Make the Right Call Campaign" aims to actively educate people on what constitutes an emergency to not completely overwhelm the system with non-critical calls. "By using 311 for non-emergencies, we can keep our 911 personnel focused on critical situations where immediate help is needed," urged Mayor Bowser. Echoing the mayor's sentiment, OUC Director McGaffin added, "Please do not let non-emergencies compete with real ones. Only dial 911 when health, safety, and property are in immediate danger." These statements serve to reinforce a more effective use of the city's emergency response services, as reported by DC.gov.
The DC government is educating people about common misuses of the 911 line, such as calls for parking enforcement, noise complaints, and reporting lost or stolen items. These issues should be directed to the 311 service line instead. The goal is to encourage residents and visitors to use the correct number for specific incidents, keeping 911 available for emergencies like crimes, fires, and medical situations.
Dial 911 only when health, safety, or property is in immediate danger. For non-emergency issues, like past crimes or noise complaints, call 311 and press 1 for police non-emergency. 311 should also be used for city services like bulk pick-ups or parking enforcement. McGaffin stated that the goal is to ensure quick and accurate emergency responses. These guidelines aim to improve the efficiency of emergency services in the city.
