Would changing 911 emergency number?

Question

reduce the number of emergency calls recieved ?

Answer 1

This question is on the UK&Ireland Only Questions site. In the UK&I the emergency number is 999.

I see where you're coming from though. The number of emergency calls my well reduce because it would be harder to identfiy what was an "emergency call" if each Service or Area had its own number.

A system has been tried in Hampshire (England) whereby non emergency calls to (say) the police (to report things like damaged street lights or vandalised things) could be made on 101. This has not been sufficiently supported by the public so it's being discontinued. Most people just like to dial 999.

The 999 system started in 1937, which was several decades before the US adopted 911 in 1968.



999 was introduced as a standard emergency number across the country because it is easy to remember and 999 is hard to mis-dial (you don't have to take your finger out of the dialling ring). See the link below for the history.

Answer 2

You could change it to an unlisted number and reduce the calls to zero, but that isn't the purpose of 911.

What people need to know is 911 is for emergencies, and not use it for nonsense like "Where is my morning paper?  It didn't come" or anything else that isn't a life and death situation.

Answer 3

Just seeing that number written down made me wonder if the idiots that crashed the planes into the World Trade Centre chose that date because it was the same as the emergency number.  Just a thought!

Answer 4

I don't think so, everyone knows that number and if you can't dial that number you must be  dead.

Answer 5

In many places up in New England (and possibly other areas) the emergency number is just changing to 911!  Many people do not know this.  They were 10 digit numbers that people had to put on their phones to remember.  Most places by now have changed, but they still are changing, so they still exist.

This is real trouble for visitors and passer-bys because if the number is not poster, then if they encounter an emergency by themselves, then they must need the #, and it would be especially bad if the person did not post them.

But, if someone is going to call 911, then they need help, and would find someone who knows the number to call.  Therefore, there would be no less calls.

Answer 6

Nope just leave it alone because it will be one more number to have to remember, especially with the elderly and small children and it could cause the difference between life and death.

Answer 7

Lol :-)

Reminds me of a quote:

Homer Simpson: "Operator! Give me the number for 911"

Lol

Answer 8

Educating the public about what constitutes an emergency is what would cut down the calls. People have called 911 looking for directions, a certain business, asking the time, you name it.

Nothing is going to reduce the number of calls as long as there are folks out there with that type of mentality.

Answer 9

Probably. They could REALLY reduce the number of calls if they made it unlisted. DUH.

Answer 10

Too much trouble. Just leave the phones off the hook...