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What was it like the first time you had to call 911? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 month ago by Dalacos@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/40442020

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?

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[–] Aganim@lemmy.world 3 points 4 weeks ago

Here it's 112, my first time was when I was stranded on the emergency lane of the highway. I was driving a van and parts of one of my tires were strewn across the right lane.

In my country you're supposed to call the emergency number when your car breaks down on the highway, even when you've made it to the emergency lane. You'll be towed to the nearest safe place by a salvage company, at no expense. Of course, how you get underway again from that point is your own problem.

At any rate, before you get towed they'll usually display either a big red cross (to indicate a closed lane) or a reduced maximum speed on the matrix signs (present every few kilometres on most highways) for the adjacent lane to make the situation a bit safer.

In my case they closed the right lane to prevent cars hitting the debris of my tire and to make sure that the government agency in charge could clean up the mess. It was unfortunate to see how many people just ignore the red crosses.

I also learned about rethreaded tires that day. We bought that van not too long ago, the tire profile looked as if they were quite new and should have lasted for thousands of kilometres at least. But apparently revising tires by stripping of the old threading and basically glueing on a new one is a thing. In our case the thread came off suddenly. So screw that shit, only new tires for me.