Should there be an International Emergency Services Number?
By Barb
@abbey19 (3106)
Gold Coast, Australia
April 8, 2007 1:39am CST
My husband had to call Emercency Services last week, because I almost cut my finger off with a knife and it wouldn't stop bleeding. Keep this in mind - we have lived in 3 different countries, and the first one he called was 999 for the UK; then he called 911 for the USA! By this time I am almost fainting from loss of blood, and I had to shout at him to remind him we lived in Australia and the number was 000!
When the Ambulance came they thought my hubby was the patient because he was white and was having an asthma attack!
I did get to the hospital after all the excitement!
After we had calmed down, it made me think that we should have an International Emergency Number - what do you think?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@matlgal (1686)
• United States
11 Apr 07
Abby- wow that was a not so nice ordeal for you. YES YES YES why it sounds so simple why has it not already been done? why would that be so difficult to do? 911 could be universal could it not? I think we all need to wirte to our congress persons and put a chime in for that.
GOOD IDEA !
1 person likes this
@noyida (795)
• Singapore
11 Apr 07
Thank God that you are okay now, Abbey. Sorry to hear about your accident. Hope that you are recovering well.
As to the Emergency Number, ya, it should be the same all over the world incase we are in an emergency to contact the police or ambulance when we are in that particular country. We cant really flip the yellow pages in the hotel room for Emergency, this can be very fatal. If this kind of thing cant be help, perhaps it always good to paste the emergency number near the phone.
BTW, where in the world can we suggest the usage of International Emergency Number?. Anyone know?
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
11 Apr 07
Thanks Aidah, my finger is healing nicely although they tell me it could be 18 months to 2 years before the feeling comes back - if it ever does.
If we took this matter to our own member of parliament in our own local area and got enough people to support it, then it could be taken up in Government and discussed at length.
@linzmcwilliams (1552)
•
8 Apr 07
I think your probably right. I know the numbers for the UK and America but i lived in Singapore for two years and if something had happened i would have had no idea how to call the emergency services! Really quite shocking i know..
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@kathy77 (7485)
• Australia
8 Apr 07
Oh dear Abbey, I do hope that you are alright even though you scared your husband when you nearly cut off your fingers, but I am not sure whethere an International Emergency Number would really be right not unless the number was the same I even seen that the phone number from my mobile is completely different for emergencies and so that would really be strange and I would hate to test it and find out that I could not get through,.
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
8 Apr 07
My finger is ok thanks Kathy, still numb down one side and I have 6 stitches!
I meant that there should be ONE universal number worldwide - that way, there would never be any confusion, whichever country you were in or visiting.
