[bluGill]

If you realize you called 911 by mistake just stay on the line and explain. Operators are understanding of mistakes, they will do some checks to make sure it really was a mistake as opposed to a real thing but you know the attacker is listening and then tell you bye. Don't make mistakes often, if it happens often they will look up the laws and throw fines at your for wasting their time, but for a rare thing it isn't a big deal.

If things are borderline and so you are not sure if this is 911 or maybe you can lookup some non-emergency number: just call 911 and explain. They will figure it out - better to call 911 when you didn't need to than call the non-emergency number and not get the help you need.

If you don't live in the US you may have some other emergency number. Know what it is. Generally the same rules as above apply.

[yelling_cat]

I've called 911 twice for borderline issues and it played out both times just like you said - I said what I was seeing and to let me know if I should call a different line, they confirmed the issues were emergencies, and the rest played out like any other 911 call. Let the dispatcher decide.

On a related note, the valid reasons to call 911 are:

1. A danger to life, property or the environment

2. A crime in progress

3. Someone having a medical emergency who needs immediate assistance

4. A fire