And now I know what a ":possible explosion" is...
By foxyfire33
@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
December 5, 2007 1:50pm CST
It's when people here a noise and see smoke but call it into the police before actually going out to see what happened.
A car wrecked on the road through the trailer park and steam was coming out of it. From the vantage point of the person who called it in it appeared that smoke which was really steam was coming out of a trailer when it was really just billowing up from the car behind the trailer.
So my new question is: Would you call 911 if you didn't really know what was going on and let them figure it out or would you investigate a little first to make sure you were sending the right kind of help? Obviously the guy in the wrecked car needed an ambulance more than a tanker truck.
3 people like this
6 responses
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
6 Dec 07
I think it totally depends on the situation. If I hear gunshots in the mall, I would call 911 rather than run toward the gunshots to make sure it really is gunshots. If it's a possible explosion, how do I know that there isn't another one to follow? If it's a fire, how do I know that what ever is on fire isn't going to explode? If someone passes out in the grocery store, I'm going to do everything I can to help that person while also calling 911.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
6 Dec 07
You have made some excellent points here. You sound like the kind of person that can keep their head on straight in an emergency. Thanks.
(You did see my comment to your response on ctrymuziklvrs discussion about a card exchange I hope?)
1 person likes this
@girlgonefishing (2174)
• United States
6 Dec 07
Oh of course I saw it. I replied "I'm glad it was a coincidence". Don't worry, I'm not the least bit mad or anything. I don't think you did it :-)
Still Friends!!
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
5 Dec 07
I'd at least check things out a bit before calling 911. I wouldn't want to call and not have any clue as to what was going on because that would just mean delayed help to the person or people involved in whatever is going on. Plus, it may mean that they don't get the right kind of help because no one knows what is going on.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
6 Dec 07
That's what I was thinking too until I read some of the other responses. They pointed out that the time it takes to check things out to make sure of what's going on would also delay getting help so now I'm undecided. I guess it would depend on the exact situation but maybe sometimes getting any kind of help there fast is better than waiting to call, I'm just nt sure.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
6 Dec 07
I would definitely wait and do a little investigating before calling 911, unless of course, it was a really huge explosion. I think it's important that 911 be kept free for true emergencies and there can be many reasons for a loud noise and smoke.
Annie
@kurtbiewald (2625)
• United States
5 Dec 07
I usually check it out first
if I see somebody lying in the snow, I might kick gently to see if he is alive so I know whether to call the ambulance or the hearse
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
6 Dec 07
I would call 911 immediately just in case there was something going on that I couldn't see that could be life threatening.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
6 Dec 07
And that was a really good point that made me understand calling even if you didn't quite know what was happening. Here at least it's volunteer fire and ambulance crews and usually at least some of them do both. So in this case calling the firemen for what was actually a car accident wasn't all that bad since probably some of the responders are also on the ambulance...and ambulances always have to go to fires anyway, their response is just a little slower so they won't be blocked in.
