Fun fact: in most countries, the primary emergency number is actually 112.
However, AT&T and subsequently the Americas decided to go with 911 (no, they did it before 9/11).
America managed to export their very local thing abroad, and now emergency services around the world have to redirect 911 calls to the 112 line to ensure you get your call through even if all you’ve seen is American media.
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The FCC met with AT&T in November 1967 in order to choose the number.
In 1968, the number was agreed upon. AT&T chose the number 911, which was simple, easy to remember, dialed quickly (999, with the phones in place at the time, would take longer).
Because of the middle 1, which indicated a special number (see also 411 and 611), 911 worked well with the phone systems at the time. At the time, this announcement only affected the telephone companies; independent phone companies were not included in the emergency telephone plan. Alabama Telephone Company decided to implement it ahead of AT&T, choosing Haleyville, Alabama as the location.
I always thought it was because 112 are numbers PHYSICALLY next to each other, and 911 would have to be more deliberate and MUCH less likely to be accidentally dialed.
Thanks for added context!
Someone acted FAST
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Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
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Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?
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Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
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Time to call 999 or the correct number for your country: if you see any one of these signs.
0118999881999119725… 3.
Well that’s easy to remember
You know what? It kinda is. After all those years, I still got it!
This emergency services? Then which country am I speaking to? Hello?
I’ve had a bit of a tumble
I once was curious about what happens when an American visit my country and dial 911 in a hurry, as a reflex. It turns out that you reach an automatic exchange that asks what type of emergency service you need, and redirect your call.
I wonder if more countries have that.
Over here in the UK it’s a redirect over to the main 999 line, same for when you dial the European number 112. Very good to have, probably a lot of calls went through that wouldn’t have otherwise.
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Oatmink
lmao
I just hope they’re in a country with universal healthcare.
people recognising a stroke and calling for help in time feels unrealistic
Seafood diet gives you stroke?
He’s in the middle of a lame joke. “I’m on a seafood diet, I see food, I eat it”
“… If have fish in it”
I assumed the joke was mercury poisoning.
Seafood tends to be higher in mercury than many other kinds of food, its the most common way that people get mercury poisoning these days.
And… degredation of motor coordination, speech ability… just basicslly all of your neurology in general… are things that mercury poisoning can do.
There’s some neurotoxins that can get you with shellfish and such.
I think he ate contaminated shellfish. It can have powerful neurotoxonsnthat could do this. Glad his buddy recognized it quickly.
haha, stroke
Bondulance dispatched.gif
I’d say it’s no laughing matter but my wife and I joke about her strokes all the time
That’s fair. She gives me long strokes all the time!
