If you’ve got teens at home, there’s a good chance you’ve at least attempted to pull them away from their phones to spend some uninterrupted time in nature.
But a recent report of a Mississauga teen, who called 911 after her “parents forced her to go on vacation with them,” might be warning enough to leave whiny teens at home the next time you’re planning a cottage or camping trip.
Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that they responded to the 15-year-old girl’s bizarre call earlier last week. When they arrived at the rental cottage, located east of Peterborough on the Trent River, they determined there was “no real emergency.”
After confirming the girl who called 911 was safe, they interviewed everyone at the cottage to ensure it was, in fact, just a regular family vacation.
“This appeared to be a case of a teenager being a teenager,” Northumberland OPP Constable. Stephen Bates told the Toronto Star.
Joking aside, Bates warned the girl against the inappropriate use of emergency personnel, since calls like these tie up police resources, which may be needed for other members of the community who are actually in danger.
“Although she perceived this as a real issue, it was not an appropriate use of 911,” Bates said.
If you’re struggling with a group of bored teens at the cottage, here are a few creative ways to keep them entertained when the wifi cuts out.
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