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?
15 years ago, young student, I’m walking home around midnight. In the middle of a bridge I see a human shape jumping in the water. I’m not 100% sure. I ask a group of people further up on the bridge if they saw anything, they didn’t, but said I still should call 112.
One or two police cars came, and then one (or 2?) fire truck. Lots of people. Some went with full diving equipment in the water.
They couldn’t find anyone, said it was surprising as the water was very low. The fireman captain gave me the stinkeye.
Police had left their lightbar on and the car wouldn’t start (I think that was the reason) so I helped to push.
I had to come to the police station and tell what I saw many, many times.
Only years later did I realize I was being interrogated, to find out if my story had holes. I was quite naive (dumb works too).
I wasn’t drunk, depressed, or had any kind of weird fantasies that would make me want to invent a story. It’s the only time I called the cops in my life.
All cops were friendly, even though they must’ve thought I was lying or had too much imagination.
Did someone jump? Now I think not. But at the time I really thought there was a possibility, and I wouldn’t take any chances. I just didn’t realize how many people and resources would be involved.
I forgot: I called two more times recently because my phone screen would not turn on, and apparently there’s a setting in LineageOS to call the emergencies if you fiddle with the buttons, so as to make the situation even worse, and then there’s a voice telling you you’re about to talk to someone and you can’t hang up! (Edit: I suppose they would call back in any case).
Happened twice before I found the setting. So yeah, I wasted their time, again.