Young kids playing with discarded cell phones can lead to terrible life-and-death situations.

Police say a cellular phone that is no longer connected to a service provider can still make outgoing calls to 911.

Halton Regional Police say a recent call to their 911 Centre involved a young child using an old cell phone as a toy.

“Operators kept the child on the line for more than 90 minutes while officers knocked on over 50 doors looking for the child to ensure their safety,” members of the force warn.

“It was determined that the same child had also called 911 from the same phone the previous night, again tying up lines and utilizing unnecessary resources.”

Officers say if the 911 operator is unable to confirm the call was made in error or by a child playing with a phone, then police must be dispatched.

“There are also circumstances that may involve Fire and EMS being dispatched as well,” according to police.

Halton, like Toronto Police, receive hundreds of  911 calls yearly from phones given to young children as toys.

”These calls tie up resources including the communication members who take the calls and responding officers,” officers warn.

Responding officers say the unintentional calls can have “serious consequences for those who truly require assistance.”

Police say the used phones should be taken to a facility where they can be recycled or safely discarded.