Samu Regulation Center in Juiz de Fora Samu/Disclosure The Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu) recorded an increase in the number of prank calls in Juiz de Fora. According to the Intermunicipal Health Consortium of the Southeast Region (Cisdeste), false calls made in the first six months of 2026 have already exceeded the total recorded throughout last year. From January 1st to June 30th, 2026, the Samu center received approximately 865 prank calls. Throughout 2025, the agency recorded 731 incidents of this type. ? Click here to follow the g1 Zona da Mata channel on WhatsApp Currently, fake calls represent around 3% of the total calls answered by the service in 2026. Although the percentage seems low, Cisdeste reinforced that the goal is to reach zero, as each line occupied by a prank call can prevent assistance from those who really need help. "Each false call occupies our professionals and could mean a delay in providing assistance to a person who really needs help", warned Cisdeste's technical director, Homero Calderaro. Structure mobilized for nothing Cisdeste explained that it adopts the protocol of treating all calls received as a real emergency. The service flow mobilizes several professionals: An auxiliary medical regulation technician performs the first screening; The case undergoes evaluation by the regulatory physician when necessary; The team decides whether an ambulance will be sent to the scene. "Every call is taken seriously. When we discover that it is a prank call, there has already been a waste of a resource that could be used to guide or respond to a real emergency. In situations such as a heart attack, stroke, cardiorespiratory arrest or serious trauma, every minute makes a difference. A prank call can literally cost a life", reinforced Homero Calderaro. Historic reduction Despite the number of prank calls in 2026, the director of Cisdeste recalled that the scenario was worse. At the beginning of the consortium's activities, prank calls represented 15% of the total call volume. According to Homer, the reduction may be linked to the replacement of payphones with cell phones, since the change made it easier to identify the origin of calls and allowed the perpetrators to be held accountable. Educational actions and awareness in schools To combat the problem, Cisdeste reported that it is investing in continuous educational actions, such as institutional campaigns and lectures for children and teenagers in schools in the region. The consortium's management reinforced that telephone 192 should be used exclusively in urgent and emergency situations and asked for the collaboration of the population of Juiz de Fora. WATCH ALSO: Samu received 15 thousand prank calls in 2024 Samu received 15 thousand prank calls in 2024 VIDEOS: see everything about Zona da Mata and Campos das Vertentes