Calling 911

[disneychrista]

Have you ever had a need to call 911?

My coworker & I were discussing how another coworker (different department) made a comment about being a "pro" at calling 911. Which lead to a discussion about why she called 911 so often.


I have never once called 911. I have called the police or sheriff department directly but never 911. What about you? Have you called 911? Have you done it multiple times?

 

[slo]

I have called 911 once when I was involved in a hit and run car accident about 6-7 years ago. Outside of that, I've never had a reason to call 911.

My DH is a retired volunteer fireman for our town, and it would shock everyone here, if you would hear about all the nonsense 911 calls that were called in. And when I say nonsense, I mean NONSENSE. My husband could write a book about all the crazy calls he went on during his time on the fire department

 

[BrianL]

I have when it has been necessary. I believe the first time I ever did was when I was at work at Blockbuster, and there was a bad car crash in the intersection right outside. Also once when the fan in the bathroom caught fire one morning - and we're standing outside letting the fire department do their thing and people were still walking up to me asking when we'd be open! Fortunately it wasn't a serious fire, but we still ahd to wait for the all-clear.

I also called once when my grandfather was sick. My mom and grandmother both wouldn't do it. My mom has this weird thing where she worries, "Well, what if he's not really sick enough...." They don't punish you for good-faith mistakes. I called and had an ambulance sent there - and, yes, he was plenty sick enough!

 

[Disneefun]

Twice: Once when the gas furnace acted up and nearly caught fire, and second when the neighbors' bonfire escaped into the woods. Both times successfully dealt with with minimal damage.

I have a coworker, though, that calls every time they have a medical issue. Not necessarily an emergency. They strongly believe that if they arrive at the ER by ambulance, they will be seen sooner, so it's easier to cal 911 than to go to urgent care, or walk into the ER. (Not that most of the stuff they go for even requires the ER.)

They just use the ambulance like an Uber. They donate to the county EMS service and doing so gets them "free" ambulance rides. It's a nice program that keeps people from getting pounded by ambulance bills, but people like her are going to ruin it by abusing it. I had it for my parents and it was a godsend because they were very elderly and couldn't get out of the house without assistance, so every medical thing required transport. And as old as they were, it was usually a true emergency, anyway. I'd hate for other people to lose access to that program because of people like my coworker. Rant over.)

I've tried to explain that they still will go through triage and anything urgent and life threatening will be seen before them, but I cannot convince her to quit doing this. She thinks that because she's taken in via the ambulance area that it's some kind of ER FastPass.

 

[disneychrista]

I have called 911 once when I was involved in a hit and run car accident about 6-7 years ago. Outside of that, I've never had a reason to call 911.

My DH is a retired volunteer fireman for our town, and it would shock everyone here, if you would hear about all the nonsense 911 calls that were called in. And when I say nonsense, I mean NONSENSE. My husband could write a book about all the crazy calls he went on during his time on the fire department

My coworker that I was discussing this with used to work dispatch for the city. She and your husband could collaborate on the book. She has told me a few crazy stories on calls she has taken.

 

[unrequited23]

Only once. I was 17, working at a local donut shop. One of our 'regulars' fell to the floor and had a seizure. I had been warned that this might happen when I was hired, but it was scary at the time.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I've called 6 or so times. A couple times when I was involved in a car accident, twice when I was the witness to car accidents, once when someone was trying to break into my neighbors house and possibly another time or two that I'm not remembering.

 

[firefly_ris]

Yes, twice. Sounds nuts but first time was when my youngest daughter was mauled by our foster dog and then again 3 years later when my son was impaled by a tree.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’ve called multiple times over the years.
Car accidents, falls, break and enters are calls that come to mind.

 

[barkley]

a few times for medical emergencies, once when we had a roof collapse and a handful of times due to an erratic and unstable neighbor.