HOLBROOK — Director Steve Hooke is pleased to announce that Kari’s Law, which requires multi-line phone systems to allow callers to dial 911 without a prefix, goes into effect today.
Kari’s Law applies to multi-line telephone systems which are often used in office buildings, college campuses and hotels, and require callers to dial a specific number before calling a number outside of the system. The law requires multi-line phone systems that are manufactured, first sold or installed after Sunday, Feb. 16, to allow users to dial 911 without having to dial a prefix.
The law also requires these phone systems to notify a front desk or security office when a 911 call is made from the system and provides first responders with critical location information.
The law is created and named in memory of Kari Hunt, who in 2013 was killed by her estranged husband in a hotel in Marshall, Texas. Hunt’s 9-year-old daughter tried several time to call 911 on the hotel’s phone, but was unable to reach emergency services because the phone required guests to dial 9 before calling a number outside of the hotel. Medical examiners have agreed that Hunt likely would have survived the attack if her daughter would have been able to reach emergency services.
“By eliminating any extra steps, Kari’s Law ensures that anyone, no matter where they are, can reach emergency services by only having to dial 911,” Director Hooke said. “Dialing 911 when you need help is one of the most important things we teach our kids, and this law helps make sure that those three numbers are the only numbers you need to dial when you need help.”
About the HRECC:
The Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center currently includes the member communities of Holbrook, Abington, Whitman, Rockland, Canton and Sharon. Additionally, the HRECC serves as Norfolk County Fire Control and as the host of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Fire Services and HAZMAT EAST Control Point.
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