The Rock County Public Safety Lip Dubbers are at it again! After their viral hit “Uptown Funk” was released one year ago with almost 3.5 million YouTube views to date, the group is singing and dancing to the hit, Problem, by Ariana Grande.
The video is a light-hearted attempt to draw attention to the increasing problem of 9-1-1 hang-ups and misdials. In 2015 there were 65,198 calls made to 9-1-1 in Rock County. 8,586 (13%) of those calls were abandoned/hang ups (disconnected before the 9-1-1 call taker could answer). This is a 16% increase from 2014 and the largest increase since the Center began capturing this data back in 2006. Furthermore, 84% of the 9-1-1 hang ups were from wireless devices.
The issue of 9-1-1 hang-ups and misdials is a serious problem, not only in Rock County, but all across the United States. It is estimated that it takes the 9-1-1 call taker 1 minute and 14 seconds to call back and leave a voicemail on a 9-1-1 hang up call. In Rock County alone, it takes a law enforcement officer an average of 13.8 minutes to check on each 9-1-1 hang-up incident. The Communications Center estimates that Rock County law enforcement has spent at least 2,355 hours (more than a full-time employee) investigating these 9-1-1 calls to make certain they are not true emergencies.
The Problem PSA video reminds citizens to:
- Stay on the line if they misdial 9-1-1.
- Take the batteries out of old cell phones (cell phones with no service can still dial 9-1-1).
- Lock and password protect cell phones so buttons cannot be accidentally pressed.
The video was filmed in April by Huml Media, Janesville, at Milton High School for $1,000. It should be noted that all public safety personnel involved in this video were off duty and volunteered their time for this effort.
