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Have You Ever Called 911?
- Thread starter thatoneguy82
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Hardly agree with the "Cat licking it's balls" but 911 has served its purposes in the few times I've needed it. Quick response.
I just simply think some people don't appreciate having 911. Like in a third world country like the one I come from. There is an emergency service, but aid will take more than a few minutes and often hours. Moreover, pray to who ever you believe in, you don't call an Emergency service when there is a game...
Quite a few times. Once when a carload of young guys were darting in and out of lanes, cutting in front of cars with little room to spare, and then decided to do it to a semi truck followed by them slamming on their brakes in front of that semi for no reason and nearly causing its driver to jacknife the trailer and lose control of the semi. About 30 miles down the road we passed the clowns on the side of the road, all kneeling, while the police handcuffed them.
Once when a drunk driver nearly slammed in the back of our vehicle. My wife saw it coming and darted into the lane next to us. The approaching car managed to stop right next to us in the lane we had just left. We followed her after that, with me on the line with 911, and witnessed her run up on a curb, nearly slam into 2 other cars, make a turn too wide and bounce up onto and back off of a 10" high curb, with her finally slamming into a truck stopped at a red light. The police showed up 10 minutes later.
I've also called for other obviously impaired drivers while trying to follow them so the police would know where the vehicle was when they got to the area. Lastly, I had a man almost cut his hand off while I was working in a warehouse on their equipment. The workers there didn't know what to do so I raced to my truck to get sterile cloths, blanket, phone, tape and emergency medical kit. I had them call 911 and I took care of him, along with a couple others, and he made it via helicopter within about 5 minutes of bleeding out and dying. They managed to reattach his hand and he recovered. I hope to never have to dial 911 again.
Once when a drunk driver nearly slammed in the back of our vehicle. My wife saw it coming and darted into the lane next to us. The approaching car managed to stop right next to us in the lane we had just left. We followed her after that, with me on the line with 911, and witnessed her run up on a curb, nearly slam into 2 other cars, make a turn too wide and bounce up onto and back off of a 10" high curb, with her finally slamming into a truck stopped at a red light. The police showed up 10 minutes later.
I've also called for other obviously impaired drivers while trying to follow them so the police would know where the vehicle was when they got to the area. Lastly, I had a man almost cut his hand off while I was working in a warehouse on their equipment. The workers there didn't know what to do so I raced to my truck to get sterile cloths, blanket, phone, tape and emergency medical kit. I had them call 911 and I took care of him, along with a couple others, and he made it via helicopter within about 5 minutes of bleeding out and dying. They managed to reattach his hand and he recovered. I hope to never have to dial 911 again.
Your entire existence and interaction with me on this site has been to dispute what I write. ;-)
I don't call 911 for reckless driving though, I'd call local police for that.
Up to a point. Lol. However as of late, we have struck several common points on issues. Arguably now I'm much more mature than when I started using MR. But back on topic...
Reckless driving? I have a cop friend for that. Call him up and he'll do the honor. I just need to provide license plate info in case he gets away (before the cops can reach the area) to put a warning on the system.
Called it once to get an ambulance for a family member. I can see why people in the States wouldn't use it for that considering how expensive it can be
...there's no charge to call 911.
As for paying for an ambulance, I guess if you're weighing the cost before you call then you probably don't have a real emergency. The only time I ever had to pay for an ambulance's services, insurance covered all but $75 of it. Not bad for a real emergency.
i think i did once when i was a kid and the police showed up at my home not very pleased. But for an actual emergency, i have not.
Called it once to get an ambulance for a family member. I can see why people in the States wouldn't use it for that considering how expensive it can be
I see the point in this, it definitely helps to have good insurance.
Up at our local ski hill, the ambulance takes 45 minutes to even get there... The round trip cost generally is around $3000.
Accualy no... I was on the moblie web site and it didn't say Poll: by the thread title so I figured there wasn't one. Oops.
...there's no charge to call 911.
Correct, there is no charge to call. But 911 is funded, and it varies state to state, by a telephone surcharge. When you look on your phone bills there is a couple charges.
Some 911 centers have a millage which funds them in addition to or instead of a surcharge. Again, it varies by each state and their laws. My agency survives, barely, on the surcharge.
But to actually place a call to 911, it doesn't cost you, even in minutes on your cell plan.
Attachments
As an aside, I do miss the show "Rescue 911". I used to love that show when I was younger, though sometimes the dramatization of the event was way over the top.
I am aware that other countries have different numbers for their emergency services (know some, but not all), it makes me wonder why there isn't a international standard number? A scenario that this can apply to is some tourist from America (to any foreign country) gets into a bad accident (or something), the immediate call he'd make is 911, but that won't work since it's not the number used in the country. And this is all assuming that he has no idea what equivalent number is used in the country they're visiting. At the meantime, the person in the accident (or something) is deteriorating by the second with no immediate help coming.
What is your country's emergency services number? (I can probably google this)
I am aware that other countries have different numbers for their emergency services (know some, but not all), it makes me wonder why there isn't a international standard number? A scenario that this can apply to is some tourist from America (to any foreign country) gets into a bad accident (or something), the immediate call he'd make is 911, but that won't work since it's not the number used in the country. And this is all assuming that he has no idea what equivalent number is used in the country they're visiting. At the meantime, the person in the accident (or something) is deteriorating by the second with no immediate help coming.
What is your country's emergency services number? (I can probably google this)
In the US, 911 isn't regulated federally, except in certain area's by the FCC. 911 is largely regulated by each state and local county laws and policies. There is nothing that says an area (county, city etc...) must have 911. My county, was the second-to-last county in my state to get 911 and that was in 1997. The whole endeavor was a push by the local community of first responders and not the state or the feds.
Since 911 in the US isn't a "standard", hope for having an international standard is going to be slim to none.
I think it would prudent for tourists to learn what each countries emergency numbers are prior to traveling there, much like many people buy translation books, or apps to try and learn some of the language. There is a certain level of personal responsibility that everyone must exercise in order to protect themselves.
Don't get me wrong, a standard number across the globe is a good idea, but I don't ever see it happening.
...there's no charge to call 911.
I meant that people in the States may not call for the reason that I did because the service they'd call for can be expensive.
Yes, but the comment to which I replied seemed to imply that there was a substantial charge for calling. The charges you describe are there whether you call or not.
I can't imagine the cost of a cell phone call would really deter anyone from calling 911.
Right, if we need help in an emergency, paying for a 911 call wouldn't even register on my radar as a doubt.
I voted no, but now that i thin about it, i technically did. When i was 12 and i got my first cell phone. It was an LG EnV Touch. If you flip open the keyboard on the phone, there are 2 buttons above the keyboard. I was curious and held both of them down, and it said "calling emergency services" and started to ring, and i panicked and hung up immediately. Never got a call back, so i guess it didn't go through.
If you liked "Rescue 911," you can experience some cognitive dissonance by finding Shatner's real-life 911 call (wife was drowning, IIRC).
Let's just say he wasn't a model caller...
Also, 911 varies quite a bit even across the US. Where I live right now, our PSAP wants people to call for every possible reason. Garbage cans out too long? Sure, call us. Question about something? Sure, call us. I really wonder if they get reimbursement on a per-call basis from their subscribing agencies (with 911 surcharges on top).
Move over to the next 'burb (couple hundred feet) and it's 911 IS FOR EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY since it's another PSAP entirely, and they have different criteria.
Let's just say he wasn't a model caller...
Also, 911 varies quite a bit even across the US. Where I live right now, our PSAP wants people to call for every possible reason. Garbage cans out too long? Sure, call us. Question about something? Sure, call us. I really wonder if they get reimbursement on a per-call basis from their subscribing agencies (with 911 surcharges on top).
Move over to the next 'burb (couple hundred feet) and it's 911 IS FOR EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY since it's another PSAP entirely, and they have different criteria.
I never watched Rescue 911 but occasionally watched Reno 911. It's the only cop show I'd watch.
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Twice. Both during driving incidents.
First time:
Second time:
First time:
My mom and I were driving behind some crazy lady not moving at a green light - we were both turning onto an onramp. Honked horn, etc. Then after 10 seconds she finally went, got onto the onramp - and started swerving all over the place, stopping + going, etc. Acting like she was either A) in need of medical help or B) severely drunk/drugged up. Either way, called 911 right away since she was an absolute danger to everyone.
We both got onto the highway and my mom and I followed behind.
Gave the dispatcher the license plate and not even 1-2 minutes later saw 2 cops go by - then she sped up to at least 95 (while swerving all over) apparently trying to outrun them (dumb). A few seconds later she finally pulled over and they yanked her ass out of the car down to the ground.
We both got onto the highway and my mom and I followed behind.
Gave the dispatcher the license plate and not even 1-2 minutes later saw 2 cops go by - then she sped up to at least 95 (while swerving all over) apparently trying to outrun them (dumb). A few seconds later she finally pulled over and they yanked her ass out of the car down to the ground.
Second time:
Some guy texting on his cell phone swerved into our lane and nearly plowed us into the side of an overpass. Reported his license plate, etc. Not sure what happened after... but...
About 2 weeks later he was on the news (recognized his mug and car) for speeding away from the police and getting a cop killed. Come to find out his father is a fairly powerful local politician - which would explain why he got next to no jail time.... for killing a cop.
About 2 weeks later he was on the news (recognized his mug and car) for speeding away from the police and getting a cop killed. Come to find out his father is a fairly powerful local politician - which would explain why he got next to no jail time.... for killing a cop.
It's surprising sometimes at the composure of some callers to the total lack of composure of other callers considering the nature of their calls. Some people totally freak out and are uncontrollable over relatively minor things, while others are completely calm under great duress.
We had a guy one time cut a finger off using a saw and when he called, he was speaking as if nothing happened. He calmly and politely asked for an ambulance to be sent. Listening to him, you doubted he was serious and thought he was joking.
Everyone reacts differently to trauma and life threatening injuries.