In an emergency, a triple 0 call can save your life.

But some Australians are misusing the service, calling up for taxis and even to order pizza.

Last week South Australian Police and Emergency Services Minister, Michael Wright, finally had enough.

He issued an urgent public plea for pranksters to leave lines open for real emergencies.

More nuisance triple 0 calls are now being made than ever before.

This increase has been blamed for the death of teenage bushwalker, David Iredale, who made five triple 0 calls after he became lost in the Blue Mountains .

Operators treated them as a hoax, and he died shortly after his last call.

Emergency services are blaming widespread mobile phone use for the increase in nuisance triple 0 calls.

2SER's Britta Jorgensen reports.