Have You Ever Called 911 For An Emergency?
By DB
@dgobucks226 (34369)
April 2, 2018 12:43pm CST
It is always nice to know their is a number to dial for Emergency Services to respond and stabilize someone in distress, and quickly get them to the ER for treatment. Have you ever had a situation where you needed to call 911, and what warning signs did the person have which alerted you to call for help?
According to an article by Hackensack Meridian Health, the following examples qualify for a 911 call:
-Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
-Unusual pain or pressure in abdomen or chest
-Sudden dizziness
-Confusion or mental distress
-Uncontrolled breathing
-Severe vomiting
-Coughing up blood
-Difficulty speaking
-Thoughts of Suicide
Although many of the items here are common sense symptoms, it is always helpful to have a guideline to follow.
Source- MeridianHealth.org
Photo- govtech.com
20 people like this
19 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
2 Apr 18
No, I have not and hope that I will never have to.
3 people like this
@akalinus (40440)
• United States
6 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 That is a true emergency.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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7 Apr 18
@akalinus Yes, the woman had suffered a seizure while driving. A miracle she did not hit any cars when she went off the road. The road is usually pretty busy.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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4 Apr 18
Even to help someone else in distress? We recently used it to call for someone who crashed their car into our condo complex in Florida. They took her away on a back board. I am sure she was happy someone called so she could be rescued from the car and taken to emergency.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246849)
• United States
9 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 It was one of the worst times of our lives. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Oh my goodness! Glad it turned out ok. It is such a harrowing feeling when loved ones are involved 
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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4 Apr 18
Can't blame you there! Something you don't want to use but glad its there like a smoke alarm.
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
10 Apr 18
@dgobucks226
DB, we have separate numbers to call for different services. I thought 911 was for the police? Am I wrong?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
11 Apr 18
@dgobucks226
Thanks for clearing that up for me DB.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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10 Apr 18
That # is used for Fire, Police, or Ambulance . When you call 911, an emergency operator — called a dispatcher — immediately connects you to the person you need.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
2 Apr 18
My fiance called 911 when I was having a heart attack.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
5 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 I have been doing pretty good. I have a bad day every now and then but most days are good. How is your mom doing now? I had such severe pains in my chest that I knew I was having a heart attack.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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6 Apr 18
@Happy2BeMe I imagine recovery is a day to day process. In my Mom's case she did recover from that by-pass surgery but also had been in poor health from diabetes (a terrible disease btw). The heart attack happened when she turned 80. She passed 5 years later from a stroke, a result of poor circulation caused by the diabetes. In a way, I believe God decided she was suffering enough the last few years and it was time for the suffering to stop. I am glad you are doing better and the walking you do should be very beneficial for your health.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Thanks for responding Laurel. How have you been getting along now? My brother had to call the ambulance for my Mom who suffered a heart attack. He had to convince her it was serious. She thought it was indigestion from something she ate.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Yes, absolutely it is great to have a system in place. Hope you never need to use it!
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (47066)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
5 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 I hope I never have to use it either, but at least it's there just in case.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
3 Apr 18
Never called 911 as we don't have that here. No emergency numbers here.
But my grandparents living in LA City called 911 one time. My grandfather had some trouble breathing and grandma had to call 911. It wasn't serious though.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
5 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 When it's medical emergency, family is there to help and neighbours too. They will bring you to the hospital fast. Not the police.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Do you just call the police department in an emergency Toni? Better to be safe with shortness of breath. I did the same when my Dad complained of not being able to catch his breath.
@FourWalls (62132)
• United States
3 Apr 18
I have called 911 a number of times. Mostly for myself for chest pains; however, I also had to call when my mom had a brain aneurysm, when a car in front of me hit a retaining wall and flipped, and last week when I saw sparks coming from power lines. They're always very nice to me when I call.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62132)
• United States
5 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 — we’d had a heavy snowfall the night before, and there was concern that the power lines might sag because of the weight of the snow. I don’t know if there was a short in the line or what, but by the time I went by the spot the next day there were no sparks or smoke coming from the wires, and no buildings had burned to the ground. 
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
I see you've had quite a few different reasons for making 911 calls. The power line one was interesting? Did it amount to a serious issue? I have called the power company for hanging power lines but 911 would be more efficient.
I have also called regarding both my parents health. My Mom for a heart attack and stroke related fall and my Dad for heart attack symptoms.
I have also called regarding both my parents health. My Mom for a heart attack and stroke related fall and my Dad for heart attack symptoms.1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
@FourWalls That is true about the snow's weight. Especially a wet snow!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
5 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 We do not a referral service like 911. Here in Switzerland we pay a little annual fee and we receive a card, so we can call the ambulance at no cost.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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4 Apr 18
Same for me with parents. My Mom for heart attack and stroke related fall and Dad for heart attack symptoms. So you call the ambulance direct rather than a special referral service like 911, I see...
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57882)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Apr 18
Your post makes me think. Since I have lived in this house, less than ten years! I called 911 three times. Once for a lady who was living with us, once for my Mom and once for my husband. None of those times thrilling but everyone came out okay.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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4 Apr 18
Well, always better to be safe than sorry! My family has called for both my parents due to heart attack symptoms. Fortunately, on those occasions everything eventually worked out..
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57882)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 For sure. The lady that was living with us went first by ambulance to our local hospital then was put in a helicopter to a larger hospital. Scary how close she was to total oh no!!! My dear hubby was bleeding out but they got to him in time and my Mom is just old and fell and came out of it in fine shape.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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6 Apr 18
@sallypup It is such a disconcerting experience. We are so fortunate to be able to call a number and receive medical help so quickly.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
6 Apr 18
Yes, I called one day when one of my clients had a stroke while I was at her home. She fell off the chair onto the floor and stopped breathing. I had to administer Chest compression's on her until the ambulance came. She was breathing again by the time they came and they took her to hospital. She was ok
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
7 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 Well I was working for Visiting Angels and I was a crossing guard some years ago so I had taken CPR but it had been a while. I was just so glad she was ok.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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6 Apr 18
That was quick thinking on your part and probably very scary! Thank goodness for an emergency number to call a quick response is needed. Especially when a person has suffered a Strokes or heart attack.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Asthma is a condition not to be taken lightly. Some people do not realize how life-threatening it can be! There are over 250,000 deaths attributed to asthma each year worldwide 
1 person likes this
@Essjayd (1568)
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8 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 A lot of people don't
realise how easily it can kill!
There have been a few cases here of kids
dying or ending up in ICU due to schools
insisting on inhalers being kept with school nurse
or office. By the time someone has gone
to get it it's too late 
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
2 Apr 18
I never tried to call 911 or emergency hotline before.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Who would you contact in an emergency situation Jessa?
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
5 Apr 18
@dgobucks226 I will also call 911 dear friend
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
3 Apr 18
Yes I have had to before. Main issue with my last time was no one thought it much of an emergency even though I was having a severe allergic reaction to an insulin I used to take.
Also when I worked for a Convenience store had to call twice when I was robbed.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Insulin reactions are definitely very serious. Sometimes the medications one takes could be more serious than the disease their suppose to treat. I know doctors always ask if your allergic to meds they prescribe. My older brother is allergic to penicillin. Wow, robbed twice! I worked at a gas station that was robbed. Lucky for me I was off on the evening the crooks decided to rob the place.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
2 Apr 18
When I did my teacher training, I had a room in the flat/apartment of an elderly woman. One day her son came to visit her. He was ~30 years old. He got an epileptic fit. I had never seen one before but I guessed that it was one correctly. His mother was in total shock. So I called the ambulance. I described what I saw and the doctor was grateful for that because he knew what to do when he arrived.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
I've never seen an epileptic fit before. From what I have heard it can be quite a scary sight.
@dgobucks226 (34369)
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5 Apr 18
Yep, a call no one wishes to make. Thanks for responding and hope you never have a situation where you have to call.
1 person likes this
@Arunjack243 (311)
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9 Apr 18
I called 911only 1 time, not for emergency, but for clarifying how responsive they are.
