Just curious how many people here have ever called their local emergency number (911 in the US). If you have, feel free to share the reason if you’d like.
I haven’t ever called it. Neither has my wife, or anyone in my family as far as I know.
(Poll to follow)
A few times. I won’t discuss the worst one here, but most were no big deal. Reporting a burglary, reporting a car accident and when someone broke into my car.
A few times.
Once to help a person who appeared to be dead. (Drug addict.) Years ago, before the opioid crisis was known.
Once to stop what I thought was a rape. The victim was being beaten in a dark alley and screaming her head off. She was mentally ill and had been beaten repeatedly by this offender. I’m not sure why, but he probably figured the police wouldn’t believe her. Myself and one other witness called the police, and calling the cops prompted the jackass to run off. The police took my info (and got my permission to be a court witness) but didn’t call back, so I don’t know if she ever got justice.
And to stop domestic violence. Unfortunately, if the victim lies…
Duplicate. 504 error.
A medical emergency, seriously dangerous driving, intruder on the property, someone threatening violence.
Just once. My wife was having trouble breathing. I called them and an ambulance was there in five minutes. If I had had to drive her (my first thought), it would have been at least a half hour before anyone could have started treatment. They discovered congestive heart failure, so the shorter time was important.
I was on the interstate and saw a semi truck side swipe a car. No one hurt, but I called 911 in case a witness was needed. I was the second or third to call…
I was driving down this long residential street on our way to a job site, when we see this women on the sidewalk having what turned out to be a Epileptic seizure. I had a cell phone, but had no idea of the name of the street I was on. I knocked on a few doors to find out what street I was on, but couldn’t get anyone to answer the door. Finally had to tell my partner to wait with the women as I ran about a quarter mile to the street sign and called 911. Frickin’ “First Responders” took FOREVER to get there even though there was a Fire Station only about half a mile away.
Several calls for car crashes, one scuba related drowning death, and a couple medical emergencies.
And I worked in a 9-1-1 centre for many years where I fielded every variety of call.
At least five times.
The one and only time I called it was the first call I ever made from my own cell phone.
This was back in 2004 or somewhere around there. I’d just gotten my first cell phone which was a very dumb phone. Even dumb for back then; I’m talking 1994 dumb. Not even able to lock the keypad dumb. Unlike most people, I didn’t feel the need to call someone just to tell them about it, so I hadn’t made any calls on it yet.
A few days after getting it, I was flagged down on the way home from work by several young guys. They claimed that a friend had just been stabbed by some other guys. They wanted me to chase them in my car. One even jumped in the passenger seat.
Well, I wasn’t about to do that. I told the guy to get out (which he did) and then called 911 for them. I don’t know what happened after that, since I didn’t hang around. I suspect it was some kind of trap and that there was no one stabbed.
I have called 911 several times. I’ve also done the aviation equivalent, declaring an emergency on a live Air Traffic Control frequency. Two stories:
The last time I called 911 was on a hiking trail near my house that goes by a small lake. I came upon a guy with a very big, professional looking camera. He asked if I had a phone - I said yes and asked why. He showed me large two puncture wounds on his ankle and said a snake had bitten him while taking photos at the water’s edge.
I told him to sit down, keep still and I’d call 911. The following phone exchange took place:
911: This is the 911 operator, what is your emergency?
Me: I’m on the hiking trails in Smallburgh, USA and there’s a guy here who’s been bitten by a snake.
911: Where are you exactly?
Me: On the trail near Silver Lake.
(Pause, during which I hear typing)
911: OK, where was he bitten?
Me: Right here, next to the lake.
911: NO, WHERE ON HIS BODY??!! [Strong subtext being: “You idiot!!!”]
I later recited this exchange to a friend who is an actual 911 operator and she agreed that I am, in fact, an idiot. Found out later the guy ended up being fine.
My flying story was back when I was a flight instructor. I was taking a girl for her first lesson one day and we were just finishing up and heading back to land when I heard a plane on the common frequency ask for help. Failing engine, right near me.
I responded and it turned out the guy was in an amphibious aircraft over a nearby lake, wife in the plane with him, engine sputtering. Not out of fuel, so it was something mechanical. He wanted help landing at one of the nearby airports, which was a bad idea. Too far, too short runways and the closest was into a headwind. Not wanting to tell him what to do, I strongly suggested he put down on the lake, which he agreed to.
Trouble was, that lake had a lot of people on it that time of year, and I didn’t know if it was legal to land a plane there. But I did know he probably wouldn’t be able to reach the local ATC below a certain altitude. So I told the guy to concentrate on flying the plane and I’d take care of getting him help.
I switched frequencies and keyed up the local approach center. Took a deep breath and said, “Approach, Cherokee 1234 over Lake Smallville. I’m declaring an emergency for another aircraft.” Just using the “E word” on a live ATC frequency sort of took my breath away. The controller took the information, immediately understood why I was relaying in that situation, got EMS organized and asked me to continue talking to the guy.
Meanwhile, my student was freaking the hell out. It’s her first lesson and suddenly she’s involved in a search and rescue operation. I put her to work spotting for me and we eventually got the other plane in sight and watched them land safely on the water. ATC then asked me to have him call on the phone to verify he was down and safe in order to close it out officially. Then they surprised me by giving ME a number to call once I landed, which usually means you’re in trouble. But they just wanted to verify a few things and say thanks.
Called a couple of times, mainly to report smoke. Oh, and a possible drunk driver who entered the bike trail here at night.
I’ve also called #77 to report some dumbass on a crotch rocket doing about 100 MPH on the Jersey Turnpike.
At least half a dozen times.
Back when I was in college, a housemate of mine hanged himself. I was the one who found his body. This was before 911, so I called the operator and asked for the police. I was so shaken up, I couldn’t remember my address at first.
The early morning when my mom fell in the bathroom. I called 911 and they sent an ambulance that took her to the hospital. Three days later she was dead.
And between those two, I was a volunteer Crisis Intervention Counselor for several years, and had to call 911 quite a few times.
I’ve phoned several times. At least three or four of them were for medical assistance following my brother’s seizures or other medical issues. Once to report a fistfight between two customers in the drive through lane at my McJob. Once to request a police response to a suspected domestic abuse/child custody issue my neighbor was having.
Several times, including medical emergencies and once some drunk idiot trying to berak into my house at 4 AM.
I called once that I recall. I was driving through a city and I saw a traffic light had stopped working at an intersection. Not a crime in progress or a medical emergency but I figured the police would want to send somebody to the scene to direct traffic before a collision occurred. I didn’t know the regular police number so I called it in on 911.
I can only think of two occasions off the top of my head. The first was when I was living in my first apartment in college. There was a party in the apartment below me and things were getting out of hand; I heard shouting, breaking glass, and what sounded like someone being thrown against the walls. The operator asked if anyone had a weapon. I said I didn’t think so but wasn’t sure. The cops showed up several minutes later, but the fight had already broken up.
The second was a few years ago at the courthouse. I met with my client during lunch to review her testimony. When she stood up, her foot had fallen asleep, and she fell, spraining her ankle. The trial had already been continued a few times, and ended up being pushed back to the day before the kid’s 18th birthday. Of course, jurisdiction would terminate anyway once the child was no longer a child. But I still got the case dismissed on the merits.
I have reported a ladder on the freeway, a assault in progress, a man who threatened his wife, and a couple others.