Simviation Forum - Why "911"?

Reply #15 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 11:34am

Canadian Ex Member

911 in Canada.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #16 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 2:58pm

Fozzer Offline
Colonel
An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861

Quote:

In the UK it's always been 999. Most likely since the telephone was invented. They probably changed it recently like they changed everything else. No wonder old fogies like me are permanently confused. ??? Roll Eyes

Hi Hagar...!
I am pretty sure the reason for "999" was to enable people to dial the emergency number in the dark, using the old circular, rotating dialer.
You located one of your fingers in the last hole, the "0" hole, which would identify the number next to it, "9".
You repeated that three times which put you straight through to the Emergency Services.
An excellent, practical idea... Wink

...!
(Handy during the blitz, when all the lights were out).
...Quick, duck! There's another buzz-bomb going over... Shocked

...!
LOL...!

Cheers... Grin

...!
Paul.

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #17 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 3:06pm

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

By gad you're right Fozzer. Shocked

I forgot all about that. Wink

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #18 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 3:14pm

Lethal.Ambition Offline
Colonel
They call me John.
Florida

Gender:
Posts: 1563

Quote:

we have local numbers these are for non emergencies and enquiries.

We got 411 for that.

and yes 911 is a general emergency operator.

People call saying there is a fire, someone is dying or that there is a bank robbery going on. Tongue

Oderint Dum Metuant - Let them hate as long as they fear.&&Proud member of the =XE= Xtreme Eagles&&Oderint Dum Metuant&&

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #19 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 5:14pm

Professor Brensec Offline
Colonel
Can't you give me a couple
more inches, Adam?
SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA

Gender:
Posts: 2955

Quote:

Hi Hagar...!
I am pretty sure the reason for "999" was to enable people to dial the emergency number in the dark, using the old circular, rotating dialer.
You located one of your fingers in the last hole, the "0" hole, which would identify the number next to it, "9".
You repeated that three times which put you straight through to the Emergency Services.
An excellent, practical idea... Wink

...!
(Handy during the blitz, when all the lights were out).
...Quick, duck! There's another buzz-bomb going over... Shocked

...!
LOL...!

Cheers... Grin

...!
Paul.

Of course, being as practical as we are, we simply removed one of the 'unnecessary steps', by making it 000. Grin

&&&&http://www.ra.online-plus.biz&&&&&&I cried because I had no shoes - until I saw a man who had no feet.&&&&Dell Dimension 8100 - Intel P4 1.7 Gb - 512 RD Ram - nVidia GeForce 128 mb FX5200.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #20 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 5:34pm

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

Quote:

Of course, being as practical as we are, we simply removed one of the 'unnecessary steps', by making it 000. Grin

I don't think that would have been possible here. Dialling 0 once would connect you to the operator. Undecided

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #21 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 6:47pm

Deputy Offline
Colonel
Hillsboro, Oregon

Gender:
Posts: 2090

Okay. . .

911 for life or death situations

629-0111 for non-emergencys or minor traffic accidents (When Bob rear-ends Jane)

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when I come for you?&&&&Iustita Omnibus&&Justice for All&&&&Women are: attractive, single, mentally stable. Pick two.&& &&Yes, we drive on the right-hand-side of the road. Yes, I parked on the left-hand-side of the road. Yes, I blocked traffic for a picture. &&&&&&

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #22 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 6:54pm

Professor Brensec Offline
Colonel
Can't you give me a couple
more inches, Adam?
SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA

Gender:
Posts: 2955

Quote:

I don't think that would have been possible here. Dialling 0 once would connect you to the operator. Undecided

Yeah, I know. We've never had that single "0" access to an operator.
All our operators are specific for the function that you require them for.

Difficulties - 1100, Information - 1223, Manual connection - 011 etc etc.

&&&&http://www.ra.online-plus.biz&&&&&&I cried because I had no shoes - until I saw a man who had no feet.&&&&Dell Dimension 8100 - Intel P4 1.7 Gb - 512 RD Ram - nVidia GeForce 128 mb FX5200.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #23 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 7:01pm

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

It's all so complicated now. I would have no idea which buttons to press in an emergency if I was on holiday. In view of the large number of error calls Pete mentioned I was thinking maybe it's time that at least the mobile phone manufacturers might like to consider an emergency button of some sort. Rather like the old break-glass fire alarm points to prevent these accidental calls.

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #24 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 8:57pm

Professor Brensec Offline
Colonel
Can't you give me a couple
more inches, Adam?
SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA

Gender:
Posts: 2955

Quote:

It's all so complicated now. I would have no idea which buttons to press in an emergency if I was on holiday. In view of the large number of error calls Pete mentioned I was thinking maybe it's time that at least the mobile phone manufacturers might like to consider an emergency button of some sort. Rather like the old break-glass fire alarm points to prevent these accidental calls.

Most mobile phones have a function where you can program any button you like to be a "fast dial" to any number you like. Roll Eyes

??? (Work of the devil!!) Grin

&&&&http://www.ra.online-plus.biz&&&&&&I cried because I had no shoes - until I saw a man who had no feet.&&&&Dell Dimension 8100 - Intel P4 1.7 Gb - 512 RD Ram - nVidia GeForce 128 mb FX5200.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #25 - Dec 19^th, 2003 at 10:48pm

Blade Offline
Colonel
Annapolis, MD

Gender:
Posts: 2477

In the US 0 gives you the regular operator. Dialing 911 will get you the local emergency dispatcher, you tell them the problem, and they dispatch the vehicles.

&&&&Dell 4550&&P4 2.53Ghz &&512MB DDR SDRAM&&GeForceFX 5900 129MB&&60GB HD @ 7200RPM &&PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #26 - Dec 20^th, 2003 at 2:52am

Hagar Offline
Colonel
My Spitfire Girl
Costa Geriatrica

Posts: 33159

Quote:

Most mobile phones have a function where you can program any button you like to be a "fast dial" to any number you like. Roll Eyes

??? (Work of the devil!!) Grin

As I understand the situation, it's far too easy & quite common to dial a number by mistake without even realising it when the thing is rattling around in your pocket. Having one button set to dial the emergency services would make this even more likely. What I was suggesting is some sort of override switch that prevents this happening when the phone is switched on. In other words you would have to activate the button before pressing it. This should not be too difficult for the geniuses that invent these things to figure out. Roll Eyes

I don't have the problem myself as I don't have a mobile phone & have no use for one.

Founder & Sole Member - Grumpy's Over the Hill Club for Veteran Virtual Aviators
Member of the Fox Four Group

Need help? Try Grumpy's Lair

My photo gallery

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #27 - Dec 20^th, 2003 at 3:51am

Fozzer Offline
Colonel
An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861

Quote:

.....I don't have the problem myself as I don't have a mobile phone & have no use for one.

...Mornin' Doug... Grin

...!
..that makes just you and me then... Grin

...

...!
I hate the thought of being at everyones beck and call... Angry

...!
At the moment the silence is golden... 8)...!

LOL..!

Cheers... Grin

...!
Paul.

P.S. ..tipping down with rain here... Cry

...!

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #28 - Dec 20^th, 2003 at 4:58am

Smoke2much Offline
Colonel
The Unrepentant Heretic
Sittingbourne, Kent,

Posts: 3879

When London got the Telephone system, back in the days of Old Queen Bess, shortly after the Great Fire of London. You know, just before William the Conquerer, during the Blitz Dammit!!! Scotland Yard was given the phone number 999. When Phones went national, (1547, during the great plague) This number was used for all emergencies and has stuck.

Will

Who switched the lights off? I can't see a thing....... Hold on, my eyes were closed. Oops, my bad...............&&

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #29 - Dec 20^th, 2003 at 5:15am

Fozzer Offline
Colonel
An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861

Nothing has really improved on the old, "two baked bean tins and a long piece of string", idea..... 8)...!
...except, perhaps, by a later improvement in replacing the string by a length of fishing line.... Wink

...!

It's a system used successfully by Queen Boudica, (apparantly).... Roll Eyes

...!

Cheers Will... Grin

...!
Paul.

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: