Response company condemns April Fool’s prank
Firefighters and emergency medical personnel also responded to the hoax.
A PRANK call to have essential services dispatched to a school in Merebank was considered a joke in bad taste.
This comes after PT Alarms’ response unit heeded to a call to assist a primary school on Thursday, 1 April.
Under the guise of chemical fumes affecting children at the school, the report was made via a local WhatsApp crime group.
“Pranking essential services is no laughing matter this April Fool’s Day. We, at PT Alarms, enjoy a good joke, just like everyone else, but only when it’s funny and not possibly compromising the lives of people in need,” said spokesperson, Trishen Govender.
He said the company wasted no time in dispatching its tactical and response units who met with firefighters and emergency medical personnel on site.
“On arrival, it was determined that the situation was nothing short of an April Fool’s prank. The school principal reassured all present that there was no emergency situation and the children were safe with school functioning as normal. Parents were also frantic after they rushed to fetch their children.”
“Essential services should not be included in such pranks as resources could be required at a life or death scene where every second counts. This prank could have possibly cost someone their life due to a waste of resources,” he added.
Govender further advised residents to be responsible for the pranks played as this was no laughing matter.
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