While many are excited that Kings Island Amusement Park in Cincinnati will be opening for the season soon, dispatchers at Warren County Emergency Communications are not looking forward to it -- for good reason.
iPhones and Apple Watches worn by people riding roller coasters are calling 9-1-1. Dispatchers who usually can only hear screams don't know if the person is truly fighting for their life or having the time of their life, WKRC reported.
When the location of the phone pops up on a map in the center, it shows Kings Island.
“Thousands, thousands of calls come in,” said Melissa Bour, Warren County director of emergency services.
On Friday, they received dozens of calls and the park wasn't even fully open.
During last season, the devices called 9-1-1 more than 4,000 times while in 2021 more than 12,500 calls from the roller coasters were handled.
The decrease, the director said, may be due to ride operators suggesting people turn off their phones or leave it with someone.
On older iPhones, if the power button is pressed five times quickly, or the power and volume-up buttons are pressed simultaneously, your phone will automatically call 9-1-1 while fast deceleration or impact also will result in a call.
