911 = police?

[Sporky111]

I was talking with a friend from Canada and he mentioned his neighbors will have to dial 911 over some burglary that had occurred. I was confused and told him I didn't know that 911 was used in Canada as well as in the U.S.

Well, it turns out it isn't, and he'd thought it was from watching so many cops shows made in America.

What are you talking about? The emergency number in Canada IS 911, and it applies for fire, medical or police emergencies. What part of Canada is your friend from?

 

[Robert Ewing]

I didn't know that 911 was used in Canada, here in Britain the emergency services are 999.

 

[HoradricNoob]

Loving the IT Crowd reference!

 

[Thaluikhain]

Hmmm...is it just me, or do some of these numbers sound more emergency -ey than others?

999 not so much, but if you say "dial the nines", that sounds serious. Also, nine almost rhymes with crime.

000 also not so much, you have to say "triple oh", then it sounds serious.

911 sounds sorta drastic, though US movies make it sound OtT now.

112...eleven two...double one two...nah, just doesn't work. The EU must be planning to abolish emergencies if they are going to keep that.

 

[TheScottishFella]

Of course 911 is not the emergency number outside the US. In Britain, for instance, it is 0118-999-881-999-119-7253.

I loved that show! Go you!

 

[Jonluw]

Of course 911 is not the emergency number outside the US. In Britain, for instance, it is 0118-999-881-999-119-7253.

No, it's 0118-999-881-999-119-725... 3!

I love you guys.

OT: Nah, I've never heard of anyone who thinks that.
It's 112 here in Norway.

 

[oktalist]

Well, I'm in England. We have 999, because accidentally calling emergency services by leaning on your phone (btw, you can call emergency services without unlocking the keys) is so funny.

Even funnier is that it's been the same number since we had dial phones, and 9 is only the second slowest number to put in. 'OH GOD THERE'S A MURDERER AT MY DOOR' 9... *chuckachuckachuckachucka* 9... *chuckachuckachuckachucka* 9... *murderer smashes phone with axe*

It's also supposed to be the easiest number to find on a rotary phone in a smoke-filled room.

 

[Rofl-Mayo]

In Canada our emergency number is 911 as well.

 

[zehydra]

More strange, to me, is that your friend who lives in Canada does not know how to contact the police. I mean that in the politest way possible, but how does he not know? That would seem up there on the list of things you ought to know where you live.

I agree with this poster. Learning how to call emergency services is like one of the things they teach you when you're like 4 years old in the US.

 

[Sigma Van Lockheart]

Of course 911 is not the emergency number outside the US. In Britain, for instance, it is 0118-999-881-999-119-7253.

Ummm no its 999 and im English where as you are american

 

[Greni]

In Sweden, it's 112.
However! If you call 911, you'll be redirected to the emergency center anyways.

Weird that Canada don't do the same thing.

112 in Iceland too.

 

[esperandote]

it's 066 in mexco

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

Yeah, Britain has 999 and 112. 999 is the standard number to call when you need the police and 112 is for when your mobile phone has no signal. It connects to any network available, regardless of your provider, so you can call the emergency services.

 

[Wintermoot]

it,s 112 in Europe but I,m sure 911 works to.

 

[YuffieV]

Here in Japan, the number is 119 for emergency medical services and fire and 110 for police.

 

[The Random One]

Here in Brazil it's 190. Although technically 190 is only for police emergencies; you should dial 192 for the fire department and 193 for medical emergencies. But the 190 people will redirect you to the proper line if you call them.

Also I think 911 does work here, and there's some push to use one three-digit number in all South American countries, but I'll be damned if I know what that is. 990, I think.

 

[teh_Canape]

in argentina, it used to be 101, but now it was switched to 911
for whatever reason

not sure though, it's not like I needed it so far

 

[OhSnap]

Canada uses 911 for emergency services as well.

How do wireless 911 services work?

Wireless service providers link 911 emergency calls from the nearest cellphone tower to one of the networks operated by the landline telecommunications companies. These companies are responsible for connecting the call to a 911 call centre that serves a specific geographic area and whose operators dispatch police, fire or ambulance personnel.

The above was copy and pasted directly from the government website.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/t1035.htm

 

[teebeeohh]

110 for the police and 112 for an ambulance and the fire department. Splitting this becuase the governmental oversight is different is just sooo german.

 

[Maclennan]

In Sweden, it's 112.
However! If you call 911, you'll be redirected to the emergency center anyways.

Weird that Canada don't do the same thing.

Most of Canada uses 911 as an emergency number only. Also a lot of number redirect to 911; 921, 912, #, anything ending 11 that is 3 digits long. 112 redirects to 911 on mobile phones only and 4141 works in Quebec

Its the emergency number for the entire country, if it was non emergency as in the burglary was over its 311.