Have you ever called 911?

[monkey68]

Once, and almost once. The one time, it was late, middle of the night, maybe 2 or 3 am. I'm asleep, as is everyone else in my family. My bedroom and my sister's room faces to the street, while my parent's and grandparent's room faces the backyard. All of a sudden, I get woken up by this awful gut wrenching screaming. Some woman is screaming "HELP!!!" in such a way, you knew she was in trouble. My sister also heard it and woke up. We look out the window, and we could see some guy holding down this woman in a little sort of alcove type thing right across the street from us. We grabbed the phone, called 911, and the cops were there in absolutely no time. Course, there are constant patrols in my neighborhood, so it's not unlikely that they were already closeby.

The almost time, I was driving home from somewhere, and I was stopped at a red light in front of a hospital. This is a long light because it's at a busy intersection, with lots of lights for arrows going in all sorts of directions. Anyway, I'm just looking around, and I see this guy standing in front of the hospital with a gun to his head. I'm actually dialing 911 on my cell phone, when he pulls the trigger before I dial the second 1. Only, there were plenty of doctors and nurses waiting at the bus stop 10 feet away, and plenty of doctors and nurses outside taking a cigarette break. They all run to him, and I figured there was no point in calling 911. They were already bringing out a stretcher from the ER. I dunno though, it seems like if you're serious about committing suicide, you wouldn't do it in front of a hospital with tons of medical personnel around.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I've had to a few times when I worked at Disney for things like seizures and the like. I have also once at Worlds of Fun (like Disney we have an in-park 911) for heat related.

I have called the motorist help line for the Highway Patrol on "impaired" drivers on multiple occasions. When I close at Worlds of Fun I am often on the road at 1 or 2 am which makes me very nervous and I do see impaired drivers more often than I would like to.

The "best" 911 call would be the time we called on my parents' neighbors. I was home visiting for spring break when my mom said she thought she heard shots next door (They were arguing rather loudly right before). we heard it again and called. It turned out their kids decided to set off fireworks in March. The neighbors were gracious about it. They said at least they know that somebody cares.

 

[Jen414]

When I was coaching high school cheering, I called more times than I care to remember--once for a concusion, a couple times for broken noses with ridiculous amounts of blood, dislocated arms, severe racing of the heart (I forget what that girl's diagnosis was) and several head cuts. This was when not everyone in the world had cell phones, so after the ambulance called, I would then have to call the girl's house and leave a message for the parents. "Hi, it's me. Please don't panic; everything will be ok, but could you meet me at the ER asap." Yeah, not the message you probably want to get when you're getting home from work.

 

[bjscheel]

Once. On a 0º night in January 2008 DH woke up in the middle of the night because the electricity went out. He then saw flickers on our wall...the garage (really a machine shed) across the yard was on fire. He tumbled down the stairs and ran out in crocs and sweatpants only. I took a moment to put my head between my knees- and then I called 911. It took me a moment to decide how to call- the cordless ones were out of power, the cell phone I wasn't sure would call the closest department. I found the correct numbers on the desk phone in the dark. There was a bit of confusion because we are the northern part of the county and it called the county seat in the county north of us, so the address didn't make sense for a moment.

Then I took a coat out to DH! I guess the flames kept him warm. He had it pretty well knocked out by the time the fire trucks came (volunteer, these guys had to get out of their beds at home and locate us in the country). When we put in rural water he happened to put a hydrant by the shed. The Sheriff was there first and helped him get vehicles out. We hadn't even had our van for a month and it was burned. It was a dusty gold color and I had always complained it looked like a potato. Now we joke it was a baked potato!

Everything turned out okay, the really important stuff wasn't ruined and our insurance was really good to us. I like the new van much better!

 

[charming23]

Twice.

The first time was when my father first got sick and it got so bad he could not get out of bed. I called and they came to get him within 5 minutes. They were so caring and made sure I was okay along with him.

The second was when my mom fell in our house and hit her head on a desk. She needed stitches and needed a boost of fluids since she was slightly dehydrated after having the flu for a few days. Again the were caring and even offered to call someone to take me to the hospital since it was 3:20 in the morning and I was clearly upset.

 

[runwad]

on 8/15/09 at 2 am, DH wakes up sits up in bed, so I pop up; he says are neighbors having a bonfire, he smelled smoke...they were away on vacation, I got up and looked out the window and their house was on fire. DH was calm said call 911, I called but totally panicked, thank goodness they knew my address I couldn't tell them the neighbors address for the life of me, just said next door so they knew where to send the fire trucks. The house burned down, excavators supposed to be here tomorrow to finally tear it down so they can rebuild....boy does it stink!

 

[antmaril]

I have called 911 a few times.

The first time was in 1982 when my mother was having a heart attack. Actually, 911 wasn't used yet and I had to dial a # for an ambulance. She died later that night

I called 911 when our carbon monoxide alarm went off in the middle of the night in the winter. We had to have a new furnace installed the next day.

I called 911 when my husband was battling pancreatic cancer last year. He took a nasty turn and died less than a month later.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I did, 10 years ago, when my oldest DS was 3.

He had his tonsils and adenoids removed. The surgery went well with no complications. We went to his one week post op visit, and the Dr saw the scabs, and said the threat of a post-op bleed was now gone, because she could see the scabbing.

That night, I gave him tylenol (red) around 9:30pm. He slept with me in my bed, Dh was working. Around 11:30pm, I woke up to him whimpering. His throat hurt. I told him I couldn't give him anymore medicine, but I could spray some medicine in his mouth (chloroseptic). I got up to get it, and I heard him throw up. I turned the light on, and my bed was covered in bright red. The tylenol was red, so I thought for sure, it had to be the tylenol, but he threw up again, and I knew it was blood. I say a styed calm, but I think my mind went numb. I called his Dr. she asked me how much blood, and I couldn't tell her. She aske if it was more than a teaspoon, and I said yes, way more than a teaspoon. She told me to get to the ER right away, she would meet me there, and she HUNG UP ON ME!!! I was like oh crap...the Doctor is running out of her house to meet me. How bad can this be? I called my sister who lived across the street to come over and watch the baby, so we could leave. She hung up on me. (to rush right over).

I was going to drive him, but he would be in the back seat in his car seat while I was up front, he is throwing up blood, scared and confused. My sister convinced me to call 911 for an ambulance. I did. They arrived and DS would not lay down on the gurney. I was 8 months pregant, and I had to lay down with him on top of me, and they strapped us in like that. I was sooo car sick by the time we arrived. They wheeled us in together like that. LOL

He had a post-op bleed. They rushed him into the OR and it was the scariest time of my life. They said it was a 20 minute surgery,and the Dr hadn't come out an hour and half later. (I watched ER, so I had all kinds of complications running through my mind).

So yes, I have called 911 and I hope to never have to again.

 

[cepmom]

I did, 10 years ago, when my oldest DS was 3.

He had his tonsils and adenoids removed. The surgery went well with no complications. We went to his one week post op visit, and the Dr saw the scabs, and said the threat of a post-op bleed was now gone, because she could see the scabbing.

That night, I gave him tylenol (red) around 9:30pm. He slept with me in my bed, Dh was working. Around 11:30pm, I woke up to him whimpering. His throat hurt. I told him I couldn't give him anymore medicine, but I could spray some medicine in his mouth (chloroseptic). I got up to get it, and I heard him throw up. I turned the light on, and my bed was covered in bright red. The tylenol was red, so I thought for sure, it had to be the tylenol, but he threw up again, and I knew it was blood. I say a styed calm, but I think my mind went numb. I called his Dr. she asked me how much blood, and I couldn't tell her. She aske if it was more than a teaspoon, and I said yes, way more than a teaspoon. She told me to get to the ER right away, she would meet me there, and she HUNG UP ON ME!!! I was like oh crap...the Doctor is running out of her house to meet me. How bad can this be? I called my sister who lived across the street to come over and watch the baby, so we could leave. She hung up on me. (to rush right over).

I was going to drive him, but he would be in the back seat in his car seat while I was up front, he is throwing up blood, scared and confused. My sister convinced me to call 911 for an ambulance. I did. They arrived and DS would not lay down on the gurney. I was 8 months pregant, and I had to lay down with him on top of me, and they strapped us in like that. I was sooo car sick by the time we arrived. They wheeled us in together like that. LOL

He had a post-op bleed. They rushed him into the OR and it was the scariest time of my life. They said it was a 20 minute surgery,and the Dr hadn't come out an hour and half later. (I watched ER, so I had all kinds of complications running through my mind).

So yes, I have called 911 and I hope to never have to again.

scary! The same thing happened to DD after her tonsils and adenoids were removed...she wasn't throwing up blood, but did complain in the middle of the night about her throat hurting (1 week after surgery) and when I turned the light on to get her some water, I saw blood all over her mouth and nightgown. She had to be rushed back to the OR as well, but no ambulance ride

 

[nursegirl]

Called 911 a few years ago when my husband was having severe abdominal pain - had his appendix removed.

Called this past March when my 4 week old son aspirated and was blue - he was taken by helicopter to the children's hospital a week before for breathing issues but we were at the urgent clinic - so we had a rough start those first couple of months. I'm tired just thinking about it!!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

About 10 years ago we lived in a "transitional" neighborhood (we didn't realize that it was transitioning the wrong way, lol). Late at night we hear this bang bang bang on the door and it's some guy trying to kick in the front door.

The dog was going nuts and I called 911. DH slept through it until I woke him up to tell him I was ON HOLD for 911 .

I eventually got to talk to the police, they showed up and found the guy passed out on our woodpile out front. He thought we were a package store and was mad that we'd closed for the night.

We moved eventually, to a definitely not transitional neighborhood, lol...

I almost want to call 911 in this county just to see if I'd get put on hold here, too. It was a LOOOooooooong time on hold, about 10 minutes, in the other county. "Thank you for calling Dekalb County 911 Emergency Services. We know your call is important, please continue to hold." What! .

I suspect it would be better here, here's hoping I never need it.

 

[KSchwagg86]

Once accidentally! It was on speed dial and I didn't know. I said I made a mistake and they said "no problem" and we hung up

 

[brasswillow]

Once a few months ago. It was a Friday afternoon at the office and everyone else was gone. My supervisor came in saying she felt really sick and was going to go lay down. I check on her about 20 minutes later and she wasn't doing well at all. She was worried she might be having a heart attack. I called 911 and they came right away and took her to the hospital. I was really surprised how composed I was.

I ended up that she had gotten e-coli at a breakfast diner earlier in the day. Every now and then I tell her she's not allowed to get sick ever again when it's just the two of us at the office.

EDIT: There was an instance in college where I called the emergency number for the university. A girl (whom I lovingly called The Fish) put her hand through her dorm window. She was so excited that the Red Sox had won the first game for the world series. She was banging on the window trying to get people's attention outside and she shattered the window and embedded glass in her hand. Everyone else thought it was so funny, it felt like I was the only rational person on the floor.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I've called 911 more times than I care to count - mostly for car accidents at work. We are right on a very well traveled road and surrounded by doctors offices and banks. People are constantly stopping short and thus getting rear ended. There is also a high school right across the street, the largest accident I have scene so far involved a line of high school kids in a chain reaction rear-ending accident that involved at least 6 or 7 cars, mostly high school kids but there was a mini van in there which was driven by a woman who had her mother and daughter as passengers, the daughter was maybe 2 years old and wasn't restrained - at all!!

I had to call 911 a few times from my previous job as well, the neighbors used to like to set things on fire

 

[torinsmom]

When I was 8 months preggo, I was nannying for a child whose mother was due the next day. We were chatting and her two year old somehow got hold of the phone. She managed to dial 911 at random and then laid the phone down. I guess the 911 people tried to call back, but the phone was off the hook, so they came out! We were shocked when they knocked on the door and then very embarrassed. Yes, two very pregnant women here, but NO EMERGENCY, LOL.

The only time I have purposely had to call was when one of the kids in my class had a seizure. He was standing in line and fell backwards onto the hard floor. I was scared, but managed to stay calm. Good thing, because my co-teacher was a basket case and I ended up having to sit with the child(still in the seizure) and talk to the 911 operator with the other kids still in the room. I sent the other teacher out with the teacher and told her to yell for an administrator to help me.

We should have called 911 another time when a 3 year old was choking. He was turning blue and unresponsive, despite back blows and stomach thrusts(he was a tiny guy) and the heimlich. Same co-teacher froze and could not call 911, and I was busy trying to save the kid. Ended up sending a child for another teacher and picking the child up to run out into the hall. I did not want the other kids to see this child die(he had been choking for around 2-3 minutes) I guess the jarring motion of me running with him cause the hot dog to finally come out and he was okay. Admin decided not to call 911 after the fact, although I thought they should.

The other teacher did manage to call 911 twice for more non-emergency emergencies. Once, we had a child put her arm in the gap between the door and the jamb and we could not get it out(they took the door off and she was very excited to see the paramedics). Another time, a child swallowed a nickel and was breathing and talking fine, but he had to go get checked to make sure it didn't shift.

No calls this year, thank goodness!

Marsha

 

[ma2jr]

Snake

 

[FoundMyPrince]

I called 911 two years ago for my DH. He was ill, walked through the bedroom at 5a.m. and fell straight back and had a seizure. His head hit the wall about 2 ft up from the floor, and made a hole about the size of a volleyball in our wall. I completely freaked out. He had had seizures about three other times in the last ten years and the previous time the dr said to take him to the er immediately. I knew I couldn't load up three sleeping children and drag my 230 lbs husband out to our vehicle so I called 911.

 

[PUZZLDY5]

Yes, not to long ago either.
Where I work the prisoners do the landscaping and I was going to my car to leave for lunch and the guard flagged me down and asked me to call 911 cause one of the prisoners was having some sort of seizure. I don't know why the guard didn't have a cell phone but I did it anyway. It was a little scary being surrounded by prisoners until the guard told them all to get in the back of the transport truck. I guess he noticed how uncomfortable I was.

 

[PatsMom]

I've only called 911 once in my life. It was February and we had finished a week at Disney. The airport is about 2 1/2 hours from my house and we had a late flight home. So it was about 2 am when I was driving up my road. While still on the paved section, DH noticed that the sky was red in the distance. He though it might be a forest fire (we live in the White Mountain National Forest) but I said it was the wrong season and there were about 10 feet of snow on the ground.

So we kept driving up the road. Shortly after it turns to dirt (and became one car wide in spots because of the amount of snow we had) we started down the big hill. I can remember saying to DH something along the lines of "holy crap, so and so's house is burning". And feeling guilty because I was so glad it wasn't mine (we're about a quarter mile past the burning house). I had an emergency only signal on my cell phone so I called it in. We went past the fire to our house and unloaded the car. Then we walked over, still no fire department. We are mostly volunteer with a few paid firefighters but no one is on duty at night. The fire chief lives right up the road but had to go to the station first. The neighboring town's fire truck showed up first.

We kind of stood around and watched the house burn. By the time the fire department got there it was too late to do anything. Fortunately, no one was home (vacation home) and the owner had insurance.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Snake

You called 911 because of a snake?