VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Barnes County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind citizens to be cognizant of the effects of accidental emergency calls caused by crash detection features on smartphones, smart watches, and particularly on Apple products.According to a news release, false crash detection on smartphones causes unnecessary 9-1-1 calls to the dispatch center and diverts first responders from real crises situations. Every automated alert is treated as a genuine life-or-death emergency, sending law enforcement and other first responders to the location. The most common cause of false alarms in Barnes County is phones sliding off vehicles while driving away.

Some helpful tips to manage the features of your phone include Keeping your phone secured or stowed safely during high-motion activities to prevent accidental triggers. Turn Off Crash Detection. You may easily use Google to search for how to do this on your smart phone or watch model. If a 9-1-1 dispatcher is heard on the other end of the line, please don’t hang up, stay connected to them. Let them know if it was an accidental crash detection right away.