911 = police?

[DanielBrown]

Since Swedens 112 has already been accounted for, I'll add that our old emergancy number was 90000. Good thing they changed it. >.<

 

[FamoFunk]

Of course 911 is not the emergency number outside the US. In Britain, for instance, it is 0118-999-881-999-119-7253.

*high 5~ I knew someone would post this

I have and would dial 999 (or said number above) can people really not know their own countries emergency number?!

Also, just me if is Americas the most difficult to dial in an emergency, I mean you have to more you hand across the phone, whereas, 999 for example is easy and all in on space.

 

[Thundero13]

I've never thought that because the Irish emergency number is way easier to remember, it's simply: 999 Although for mobile phones it's apparently the decidely less easier to remember: 112 Or at least, so i've heard...

 

[Major_Tom]

It used to be 92 (Firemen 93, Ambulance 94) in Croatia but it's now 192. 112 is also valid because it's standard European emergency... something.

 

[Korolev]

Yep, when I was younger I did think 911 was the emergency phone number in Australia, simply because I was raised on American TV. I think I actually know more about the US than I do about Australia, sad as that is. Of course, after I turned 10 years old, I knew the correct number is 000 - but still, I have found myself saying "Dial 911!" when an emergency occurs.

 

[direkiller]

Fun fact - the numbers are like this from the old days of rotary-dialling telephones.

For example, dialling "999" on a rotary telephone would be extremely hard to do accidentally, because of the long time it would take the dial to return after you choose 9. Same idea with Australia's 000.

However, in the USA, they decided that after the first nine, speed is of the essence in an emergency, so afterwards it's 1 because that takes the least time to return on the dial.

another fun fact

In the US when they first started running radio adds for 911 they had to change it from "nine-eleven" to "nine-one-one" because people in a panic were looking for the number 11 instead of 2 ones on there phone

 

[Lukeje]

Apparently it's quite common for children to think that the number is 911 (from American TV shows such as Sesame Street). Anyway; here in the UK it's either 999 or 112 (though hardly anyone knows about the latter).

It's also 911 in case you didn't know. They had to make that work because American tv is so prevalent that many many people who need to call emergency services automatically think 911 because we hear it so much.

I'd heard that, but couldn't find confirmation (it seems to be network specific whether they forward you or not, so it's probably best to not rely on it).

Edit: some more googling reveals that such calls will never be forwarded from landline phones because `911' can be the start of a normal six digit phone number.

 

[GodofDisaster]

It has always been 999 for me living in Nothern Ireland.

 

[AngryMongoose]

999 and the European Standard 112 are used here. 101 is non-emergency police (ominous), and 111 non emergency medical. I believe 911 redirects, though not sure.

Interestingly, putting "Emergency Number" into google gives the message
"For immediate emergency assistance in the United Kingdom call 999
Help in fire, police, and medical emergencies"

 

[Tallim]

Apparently it's quite common for children to think that the number is 911 (from American TV shows such as Sesame Street). Anyway; here in the UK it's either 999 or 112 (though hardly anyone knows about the latter).

It's also 911 in case you didn't know. They had to make that work because American tv is so prevalent that many many people who need to call emergency services automatically think 911 because we hear it so much.

I'd heard that, but couldn't find confirmation (it seems to be network specific whether they forward you or not, so it's probably best to not rely on it).

Obviously not something you should rely on but I know it worked because I myself accidentally did it when my wife died. Wasn't thinking clearly at all during her heart attack and after looking back in my call history I discovered I had called 911 and not 999.

 

[harvz]

well, if i wasnt whacked over the head with the number on every other ad as a kid, then the constant safety lessons at school and also on signs in some places, i would think it was 911. but all that happened so its 000 for aussies.

btw, why is it 911? it seems to me that if your having something happen, you would want numbers that are atleast relatively close together

 

[Sporky111]

I was talking with a friend from Canada and he mentioned his neighbors will have to dial 911 over some burglary that had occurred. I was confused and told him I didn't know that 911 was used in Canada as well as in the U.S.

Well, it turns out it isn't, and he'd thought it was from watching so many cops shows made in America.

What are you talking about? The emergency number in Canada IS 911, and it applies for fire, medical or police emergencies. What part of Canada is your friend from?

 

[Robert Ewing]

I didn't know that 911 was used in Canada, here in Britain the emergency services are 999.

 

[HoradricNoob]

Loving the IT Crowd reference!

 

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm...is it just me, or do some of these numbers sound more emergency -ey than others?

999 not so much, but if you say "dial the nines", that sounds serious. Also, nine almost rhymes with crime.

000 also not so much, you have to say "triple oh", then it sounds serious.

911 sounds sorta drastic, though US movies make it sound OtT now.

112...eleven two...double one two...nah, just doesn't work. The EU must be planning to abolish emergencies if they are going to keep that.

 

[TheScottishFella]

Of course 911 is not the emergency number outside the US. In Britain, for instance, it is 0118-999-881-999-119-7253.

I loved that show! Go you!

 

[Jonluw]

Of course 911 is not the emergency number outside the US. In Britain, for instance, it is 0118-999-881-999-119-7253.

No, it's 0118-999-881-999-119-725... 3!

I love you guys.

OT: Nah, I've never heard of anyone who thinks that.
It's 112 here in Norway.

 

[oktalist]

Well, I'm in England. We have 999, because accidentally calling emergency services by leaning on your phone (btw, you can call emergency services without unlocking the keys) is so funny.

Even funnier is that it's been the same number since we had dial phones, and 9 is only the second slowest number to put in. 'OH GOD THERE'S A MURDERER AT MY DOOR' 9... *chuckachuckachuckachucka* 9... *chuckachuckachuckachucka* 9... *murderer smashes phone with axe*

It's also supposed to be the easiest number to find on a rotary phone in a smoke-filled room.

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

In Canada our emergency number is 911 as well.

 

[zehydra]

More strange, to me, is that your friend who lives in Canada does not know how to contact the police. I mean that in the politest way possible, but how does he not know? That would seem up there on the list of things you ought to know where you live.

I agree with this poster. Learning how to call emergency services is like one of the things they teach you when you're like 4 years old in the US.