Old Cell Phones Calling 911
Sunday, February 10th

Police Communications Officer Natalie Taylor talks to tons of children everyday, on the 911 line; Children who have no idea that their mom's old cell phone can still call the police department.
Taylor said, "You can call 911 on any cell phone as long as the battery is charged up. You may be disconnected from your plan but you can still call 911, that is a law."
But these unsuspecting small kids are causing big problems.
Taylor continued, "If it's children playing they don't realize they're taking up time that someone else maybe injured, needs an ambulance, or needs help."
Some children do know though. Carley Faile, a 10-year-old, said, "If you dial 911 on a phone that's not working...you can still call them [police]."
Officer Taylor says there are other basic do's and don'ts of 911 that should always be followed: Don't: Program 911 into your phone
Dial for a non-emergency
Hang up if you dialed in error; stay on the line
Prank call
DO: Call in an emergency
Give address and phone number
Stay on the line
Describe your situation
Little 4-year-old Ravyn Galbreath said she already know those rules. When NBC 10 asked her when do you call 911 she said, "When you're on fire or something."
Officer Taylor said, "We just ask that you train your children, teach your children,what 911 emergency is: Mama needs help, Daddy needs help."
Ruston Police say they get up to 20 and even 30 911 calls a day and they are not always able to pinpoint the exact location of the caller. So, Taylor said, in the event of an emergency always remember to first give your address so police can find you because even in a tech-advanced age, computers can only get approximate locations if you are calling from a cell phone.
Taylor said if you want to give your old cell phone to your child, just remove the battery, that way they can still play with it but not dial any emergency numbers. It is illegal to prank call 911-- it is called improper telecommunications.

-Candace Miers, NBC 10 News