911 is the emergency number here in Canada if you’re unfamiliar. 112, 999, etc if you’re elsewhere IIRC.
Do you remember the first time you had to use it?
What were you thinking, feeling?
First time I had to use it in earnest I was working front end at a post office and there was a random guy doing maintenance behind me in the back area of the office. Barely said a word to him, he barely said a word to me. I was fairly busy and he seemed kinda gruff.
Bit later all of a sudden he taps me on the shoulder pretty aggressively, I turned and was getting ready to give him some not-polite words about touching me like that and how he better not damn well do that again but I stopped when I saw the look on his face.
He just says, “call 911.”
I look blankly at him, getting some mental whiplash, and just dumbly go, “what?”
Him, “I’m having a fucking heart-attack, CALL 911!”
That got through so I called them, gave them the info. He went back into the office and laid down.
I was a bit in shock myself and just looked at the customers in line in front of me and said to the woman, “he’s having a heart attack, sorry.”
Honestly think I could’ve handled the situation better, at least gone back and been more empathetic but I was caught between him, customers, and making sure I was visible so I could wave the paramedics to where they needed to go.
The post office there was tucked into the back corner and most of the store didn’t even know about it until I told them later that day.
Never heard anything after, no clue if the guy survived, or not. Didn’t see him again either way.
You?
Driving between fields on a bike with my 5yo son on the back.
Noticed a person lying between the mounts of an asparagus field a little bit off, not moving.
Some offroad meters later we were standing besides him.
I checked for life signs, he was still alive, but not responsive.
Temperatures were around 10°C and sinking, so potentially life-threatening.
Called 112 (German emergency line). Lady on the other end was very friendly and well structured, asked me all the relevant details.
Just as she was about to send an ambulance, the man suddenly moved.
I kept the emergency line active while I tried to bring him to full consciousness and talk to him.
After a while he stood up slightly unsteady.
Did speak almost no German (nor English), only some Eastern European language.
But was enough to make it clear to me that he just had been drinking a little too much and felt fit to go home by himself.
Told the lady on the line that the crisis had been averted. She was very positive overall and told me that I had done exactly the right thing by calling.
Don’t be afraid to call!