Why "911"?

[Ambassador]

911 in Canada.

[Fozzer]

In the UK it's always been 999. Most likely since the telephone was invented. They probably changed it recently like they changed everything else. No wonder old fogies like me are permanently confused.

Hi Hagar...!
I am pretty sure the reason for "999" was to enable people to dial the emergency number in the dark, using the old circular, rotating dialer.
You located one of your fingers in the last hole, the "0" hole, which would identify the number next to it, "9".
You repeated that three times which put you straight through to the Emergency Services.
An excellent, practical idea... ...!
(Handy during the blitz, when all the lights were out).
...Quick, duck! There's another buzz-bomb going over... ...!
LOL...!

Cheers... ...!
Paul.

[Hagar]

By gad you're right Fozzer.
I forgot all about that.

[Lethal.Ambition]

we have local numbers these are for non emergencies and enquiries.

We got 411 for that.

and yes 911 is a general emergency operator.

People call saying there is a fire, someone is dying or that there is a bank robbery going on.

[Professor Brensec]

Hi Hagar...!
I am pretty sure the reason for "999" was to enable people to dial the emergency number in the dark, using the old circular, rotating dialer.
You located one of your fingers in the last hole, the "0" hole, which would identify the number next to it, "9".
You repeated that three times which put you straight through to the Emergency Services.
An excellent, practical idea... ...!
(Handy during the blitz, when all the lights were out).
...Quick, duck! There's another buzz-bomb going over... ...!
LOL...!

Cheers... ...!
Paul.

Of course, being as practical as we are, we simply removed one of the 'unnecessary steps', by making it 000.  

[Hagar]

[quote]Of course, being as practical as we are, we simply removed one of the 'unnecessary steps', by making it 000.

[Deputy]

Okay. . .

911 for life or death situations

629-0111 for non-emergencys or minor traffic accidents (When Bob rear-ends Jane)

[Professor Brensec]

I don't think that would have been possible here. Dialling 0 once would connect you to the operator. :-/

Yeah, I know. We've never had that single "0" access to an operator.
All our operators are specific for the function that you require them for.

Difficulties - 1100, Information - 1223, Manual connection - 011 etc etc.

[Hagar]

It's all so complicated now. I would have no idea which buttons to press in an emergency if I was on holiday. In view of the large number of error calls Pete mentioned I was thinking maybe it's time that at least the mobile phone manufacturers might like to consider an emergency button of some sort. Rather like the old break-glass fire alarm points to prevent these accidental calls.

[Professor Brensec]

It's all so complicated now. I would have no idea which buttons to press in an emergency if I was on holiday. In view of the large number of error calls Pete mentioned I was thinking maybe it's time that at least the mobile phone manufacturers might like to consider an emergency button of some sort. Rather like the old break-glass fire alarm points to prevent these accidental calls.

Most mobile phones have a function where you can program any button you like to be a "fast dial" to any number you like.  ::)  ::) (Work of the devil!!)  

[Blade]

In the US 0 gives you the regular operator. Dialing 911 will get you the local emergency dispatcher, you tell them the problem, and they dispatch the vehicles.

[Hagar]

[quote]Most mobile phones have a function where you can program any button you like to be a "fast dial" to any number you like.

[Fozzer]

.....I don't have the problem myself as I don't have a mobile phone & have no use for one.

...Mornin' Doug... ...!
..that makes just you and me then... ... ... ...!
I hate the thought of being at everyones beck and call... ...!
At the moment the silence is golden... ...!

LOL..!

Cheers... ...!
Paul.

P.S. ..tipping down with rain here... ...!

[Smoke2much]

When London got the Telephone system, back in the days of Old Queen Bess, shortly after the Great Fire of London.  You know, just before William the Conquerer, during the Blitz Dammit!!! Scotland Yard was given the phone number 999.  When Phones went national, (1547, during the great plague) This number was used for all emergencies and has stuck.

Will

[Fozzer]

Nothing has really improved on the old, "two baked bean tins and a long piece of string", idea..... ...!
...except, perhaps, by a later improvement in replacing the string by a length of fishing line.... ...!

It's a system used successfully by Queen Boudica, (apparantly).... ...!

Cheers Will... ...!
Paul.