[Closed] Think before dialling 999

Bravo.

Thanks for being out there, to you and all your colleagues.

Indeed

I had to dial 999 for the first time in my life a few weeks back when I witnessed a couple of blokes robbing a bank.

I reckon that was justified.

Seconded. Thanks guys. You rock.

I agree.

I agree more than most can think. Waiting ages due to it being 'Friday night' is not good....

are you injured?

no, but I don't have any credit on my phone

Jesus H Christ....are people really that dim...

Surely the command guys manage to weed out the wasters?

Dialling 999 is (and probably should be for the caller) a terrifying experience.

I say that, having called it three times. Twice for big fires to get the brigade out asap - I was terrified for the people in the fire and wanted the folks on the line to understand my clear worry without thinking I was being dramatic, and the third, when a colleague was fitting on the stairs at work and I didn't trust our first aiders.

The guys on the phone were brilliant. Bravo.

Surely the command guys manage to weed out the wasters?

Not sure, one guy in that video said he'd been stabbed, but it turns out he'd put a staple in his finger. If people lie to get the services out, then what can you do? You have to assume they're being genuine.

Hear hear. Thanks for being there guys and gals of the emergency services.

I've dialled 999 twice in my life.

Once when one of the neighbours set fire to another neighbours fence, tree and shed at 1 in the morning.
And once when pissed neighbours husband fell down the stairs, was bleeding from nose and ears and lying in a very contorted fashion in the hallway.

Both times the response was quick, professional and not without a certain 'british' humour when the fella from the fire service told me to put my hose away as he had a much bigger one!

To be fair though Drac, that drunk fella was right. It wouldn't have taken the crew long to take them home.

😉

If in doubt ring 101, they'll put you straight through if 999 would have been warranted anyway…

If in doubt, carry out the following series of checks.

1. Is someone going to die?
2. Is someone going to experience severe difficulty in their lives from this point onwards if professionals don't get to them soon?
3. Is someone about to, or is currently committing a very serious crime?
4. Is some severe damage to people or personal property about to take place?

No? It's not an emergency.

Agreed, some of the stuff I hear about is beyond belief. On the other hand though, some end up not calling an ambulance when they really need it, which can be worse than calling when it's not strictly necessary. Although I'm sure you're aware of that Drac.
EDIT: Never called 999, but have used the SOS button on a SPOT tracker, very odd experience that...

Surely the command guys manage to weed out the wasters?

People learn the keywords to use to get a response.

If in doubt ring 101, they'll put you straight through if 999 would have been warranted anyway…

That's not nationwide and well I'll leave it at that.

To be fair though Drac, that drunk fella was right. It wouldn't have taken the crew long to take them home.

I can bring them to see you, I bet you'll thank us.

No? It's not an emergency.

are those official checks?

No, but they are sensible checks.

Oops Gary is talking about the Police not the 111 service.

Samuri - Where would a sportsman with a broken leg come under those four things?

Because that's what I last phoned an ambulance for and it was there sharpish.

2

See - I was for getting him splinted up, given a set of crutches, fired into a car and taken to a&e. Dr and other physio asked for an ambulance. Interesting one though.

Bit of a reminder please sign in and say thanks

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/christmas-thank-you-to-the-emergency-services-over-christmas-page

oh and if you do need to call paramedics or fire out, ask thenm which station theyre from, and deliver a tin of biscuits a few days latter, makes it worthwhile for them, as there is not a lot of them unlike the police, where the biscuits may never get to the right staff.

As an aside.. in Canada (well Alberta at least) health care is mainly free but calling an ambulance costs you $180+ in billing. You can then claim it back off insurance but I'd love to see some of those jokers claim.

Not always thought it made sense but seeing that footage made me wonder....

Edit: Should add it isn't always the caller that gets billed. When I was unconscious in the middle of the road someone else kindly called the ambulance but I got the bill a few weeks later (which was then claimed back as a genuine emergency).

I have phoned 999 once before though, aged 28 and genuinely convinced I was having a heart attack. The scary part was leaving it so long because it seemed too ridiculous. Was actually pericarditis in the end, spent 3 nights on a ward Tramadolled up and a further 3 months with bad PVF… not a good time in my life in all honesty.

Felt bad for the guy in the bed next to me who looked like he could be the heart attack sort (right age and lifestyle) but ended up having bad indigestion.

sambob - Member
EDIT: Never called 999, but have used the SOS button on a SPOT tracker, very odd experience that...

Ooo, I've got a SPOT. What happened, what happened?

I used to be a 999 control room operator for the police and the amount of ridiculous non emergency calls I used to deal with was ridiculous in itself.

Also the amount of people who dial 999 because its free and they have no credit on their phone to call another number was infuriating.

[i]Samuri - Where would a sportsman with a broken leg come under those four things?

Because that's what I last phoned an ambulance for and it was there sharpish. [/i]

2 but I bet he could crawl. How far away was the hospital? If he got there, say in someone's car, would the outcome have been much different?

It's only a broken leg, I drove home from the skate park and then took my son to football practice the next morning where I finally passed out with the pain before finally heading to the hospital with my broken leg.

I called 999 for a prisoner once who'd bashed his head after falling out of bed while off his head on some illegal substance. The paramedic was the only one on duty that night covering from Wetherby to Skipton & surrounding areas. One of three ambulances on call for the same area came to take the poor lad to hospital.
Hat's off to our short staffed, overworked paramedics & amby crews!

people should be fined if they dial 999 and it is something trival they are doing it for. It's pretty clear cut when you should dial.

See - I was for getting him splinted up, given a set of crutches, fired into a car and taken to a&e. Dr and other physio asked for an ambulance. Interesting one though.

😯

On our Gold D of E expedition in the Lakes, in thick fog and sideways rain. Came across another group from my school, one lad had slipped and smacked his head on a rock, gave himself concussion. That group had to stop, clearly, which then meant one girl got mild hypothermia. The SPOT tracker sends a signal to their base, who then contact MR. By that point, school leaders were present so the helicopter wasn't sent, but ground MR attended to help get them back down Mosedale to the road. Was all pretty interesting, not that we hung around for long once we'd done what we could, it was grim. Best if you never need to press it though.

Just think how many, far more sustainably focused species live on the planet than humans that would live if we all died. It'd be great. All these animals getting on with their lives without ****ing the planet up, brilliant!

Drac, whilst I understand why you posted that I think you are predominantly (if not totally) preaching to the choir here [metaphorically before it starts a religious debate]. The downside is that when we send out these 'don't waste our time' messages to the 'good' people we plant a little seed of doubt. Should a broken arm in the middle of nowhere merit a call, or perhaps I should try and drive with my one good arm - I'll probably make it? Should I call for the "drunk" I find in the street? or perhaps he's hypo or will not wake up in the morning! Should my wife's 87 yr old grandmother call when her brother "has a funny turn" (which turned out to be a stroke) or should she call her son-in-law who is 25 minutes away and ask him to pop over later on to give him a lift to the doctor if he is not feeling any better? Or the normally healthy 34 yr old male taking antibiotics for a chest infection who is struggling to breathe and calls NHS24 rather than 999 and then waits for the doctor to come out (he was dead within 24 hrs). Should I call the police about the obstruction in lane 3 of the motorway? Should I call the police about the man lurking in next door's back garden at night? Or the kids 'tagging' the bus shelter across the road? Or when the neighbour's teenager is taking potshots at the cat with his air gun? Or perhaps Mr X next door has just come home from the pub and is throwing stuff at the missus again?

The "system" relies on members of the public calling in incidents. Some of those incidents might not be the most serious, might not technically be emergencies, or might have a perfectly sensible alternative way to resolve it - but I think generally nobody objects to those being dialled in as 999. The issue is the 'I need to get home' 'I've got no credit' brigade, or those who know the magic keywords to use ... But they aren't likely to be on here and aren't likely to pay any attention anyway. I'm not sure "education" is likely to be effective at anything other than putting off some genuine calls.

I'd like to see time wasters prosecuted, just as we would with hoax callers. I realise that is difficult and ties up resources but if the consequences of totally taking the piss are nil then you will continue to get that.

2. Is someone going to experience severe difficulty in their lives from this point onwards if professionals don't get to them soon?

It's only a broken leg, I drove home from the skate park and then took my son to football practice the next morning where I finally passed out with the pain before finally heading to the hospital with my broken leg.

So you put your son at risk and other road users (you could have passed out in pain while driving) because essentially you want to be seen as a hard-man, rather than a softy whimp?

As previously stated, many people understand the key words to use. 'i've been stabbed', 'I need urgent assistance', 'come here immediately'. They know they're screwing the system for their own selfish, immediate needs.

Those are the people who need sorting out, not the debaters on where a funny turn is urgent or not, that's for the professionals to work out.

What this says to me, is that so many people live their entire lives without ever experiencing a serious situation. Probably a good thing and it does say a lot about out society that we can produce such a safe environment, but it also makes me a little sad that we've created such a risk averse world that getting a staple in your finger is considered a big problem.

[i]So you put your son at risk and other road users (you could have passed out in pain while driving) because essentially you want to be seen as a hard-man, rather than a softy whimp?[/i]

I didn't tell anyone so no hard man boasting going on. It was only when a door banged into it that I passed out, before that I just thought I'd sprained it. Extremely painful, yes, emergency, no.

I'm all for the hagification of the emergency services. Ambilans. Polis. Fire guys. You're all frickin awesome.

Drac - simple midshaft tibia fracture. No gross deformity, tolerating pain well and pulses were good in all the relevant places.

Interesting in that as I said, it's not something i'd have considered getting an ambulance for before that day, but if the same scenario comes around again I'll ask for an ambulance.

Had not the best experiance once with 999.

At a remote farm, 900m off the road, 4 miles from a town, woman severs arm off just above the wrist. of course I call 999. Woman on the other end has list of pre-written questions. after what seemed like ages and she's still asking me what seems like stupid questions, I have to say, look, I'm putting the phone down, you've told me an ambulance is on it's way, the woman is now unconscious and loosing massive amount of blood, I'm trained in this (5 day work first aid and mountain first aid) so I'm going to elevate it, put a towel on it (the first thing I picked up)and pressure - bye......

C

samuri - Member
As previously stated, many people understand the key words to use. 'i've been stabbed', 'I need urgent assistance', 'come here immediately'. They know they're screwing the system for their own selfish, immediate needs.

Those are the people who need sorting out, not the debaters on where a funny turn is urgent or not, that's for the professionals to work out.

See - I was for getting him splinted up, given a set of crutches, fired into a car and taken to a&e. Dr and other physio asked for an ambulance. Interesting one though.

And to think about the amount of people on here that think first aid is a waste of time. 🙄

simple midshaft tibia fracture. No gross deformity, tolerating pain well and pulses were good in all the relevant places.

And there's a clinically reasoned and justified decision why I probably wouldnt have gone for the ambulance option. People with more experience and more qualifications went for different options, neither are wrong.

samuri - Member

It's only a broken leg, I drove home from the skate park and then took my son to football practice the next morning where I finally passed out with the pain before finally heading to the hospital with my broken leg.

I got a lift to hospital when I broke my hip, walked into A&E with a bit of assistance... Stupidest thing I've ever done tbh, could easily have displaced it worse, all advice from all parties afterwards was that I was a bloody fool and should have called an ambulance even though I was reasonably convinced it wasn't broken. (and quite a lot of being told off because if I had made it worse, it'd have been more work for someone to fix)

Obviously Drac wasn't there 😉 But it doesn't fit the 4 criteria mentioned.

Northwind +1 for my dislocated shoulder. It went back after some frantic and frankly dumb attempts. Drove to the hospital and got a severe telling off about how much worse I could have made it.....

typical 3 pip manager there... lots of talking, but not actually doing anything effective!

Because of the way chest pain protocols work and dealing with our punters I probably have to call every 3-4 months. Absolutely excellent 95% of the time.

Had it called for me twice... Once an RTA which left two of my family on spinal boards. Once when knocked unconscious MTBing at Swinley. After that I swore I'd not bother them again.

So when I broke my pelvis in 2 places in Friston 3 weeks ago. I rode out. It smarted a bit. But seemed the right thing to do at the time.

I had a full paramedics crew turn out to me at work when I complained of chest tightness, light headedness and tingling fingers on my left hand. They wouldn't take no for an answer and stuck me on the big diagnosis kit in the ambulance, whereupon i was told I was having a heart attack and got a free blue light ride to Manchester Royal. Lots of checks later and I was told there was absolutely nothing wrong with me - but my heart rate was very low and did I do any sports? Seems a combination of a lingering chest infection, taking too much ibuprofen and having a low heart rate can mimic a type of heart attack that fooled the machine in the ambulance. The lead paramedic said he thought it was respiratory but he had to go with the system diagnosis. An interesting lesson in how it all works, but boy did I feel like a time waster.

Poly you're looking far too much into it's not suggesting anything like you said. If you watch the clip it's about people calling 999 for silly things. Would love to give you a longer answer but must get ready for work.

Oops wrong thread

2 but I bet he could crawl. How far away was the hospital? If he got there, say in someone's car, would the outcome have been much different?

It's only a broken leg, I drove home from the skate park and then took my son to football practice the next morning where I finally passed out with the pain before finally heading to the hospital with my broken leg.

It's not a competition you know. we have a right to use the emergency services when we need to. why should you expect anyone to crawl to a hospital ffs?

Phoned it several times, once when a lad outside the wife's shop lost several fingers opening his door as a pick up came up the street and trapped his hand, in fact I phoned it twice because they took what seemed like an age to get there.
Unconcious guy trapped in his car in the footwell after a crash right outside my house.
And a comedy one where I battled three blokes pinching a genny outside somewhere I was working, they dragged me up the road whilst I was trying to pull it back out the van as they drove off doors flapping 😆
Presume all those are justified?

In January I'm starting work for NHS Directs 111 service ( the service people should call if not a genuine life/death situation)

It's gonna be interesting!

Some good points made by poly.

I can't speak for the ambulance service, but personally, I would never criticise someone who made an unnecessary call to us if it was well intended or in good faith. Such people should not be tarred with the same brush as the selfish idiots alluded to in that video.

(You won't find too many policemen who feel disappointed to discover that there hasn't been a crime, nobody is dead, and that they don't have to do lots of writing. Apart from when I missed last years village fireworks because an off-duty towny policeman called to report someone stuck on a mountain, which turned out to be a star. They'd run out of burgers too by the time we got back 🙁 )

We got turned out to a fire once and when we got there the woman went mad at us as we wouldn't fix her electric fire when we were the fire service 🙁

My Nans toilet broke and flooded her bathroom last year. A few weeks after she had the fire service around checking her smoke alarms etc. The fireman said if she had dialled 999 and asked for them they would've come out and sorted it!

I don't think I''ve ever called. I remember when I broke my ankle my mum bundled me into a car and drove me to hospital. She then drove round the car park and parked about as far away as she could from the door and made me hop inside (with crutches) rather than dropping me outside the door 😯 I was in so much pain I wasn't thinking straight and didn't question it, but on the way out after painkillers I gently suggested that she bring the car round...

Cycling through Stubbins near Ramsbottom many years ago I came across a bloke in cycling tights shuffling along the pavement on his bum, whining that he had fallen off and had a hole in his leg. He had dialled 999 and his cycling buddies were standing around looking profoundly embarrassed. Then the ambulance turned up; the faces of the crew were an absolute picture of controlled anger. I left, too embarrassed to watch any more of his antics.

oh and if you do need to call paramedics or fire out, ask thenm which station theyre from, and deliver a tin of biscuits a few days latter, makes it worthwhile for them, as there is not a lot of them unlike the police, where the biscuits may never get to the right staff.

Did that with the Spanish equivalent of the ambulance service after the excellent assistance they gave us when my wife was involved in a fairly serious car crash. Although it was a box of chocolate rather than biscuits, seemed to be appreciated!

My Nans toilet broke and flooded her bathroom last year. A few weeks after she had the fire service around checking her smoke alarms etc. The fireman said if she had dialled 999 and asked for them they would've come out and sorted it!

It's not up to the "fireman" to decide if he would have attended or not. The control ops would have call managed it, either calling the FS out or redirecting her call to a more suitable person who would deal with it.

Last time I looked we do not have 24hr plumbing/locksmith services on the side of the appliance.

Hmm, typical STW derailment methinks.

I'm with Poly rather than samuri. I've only had to call 999 myself once (police) but as I've been ambulanced to hospital twice other people have. First was after coming off a motorbike, my brother called when I appeared over the hill 300m away with a bloody face. As i had already walked a mile, i could probably have managed the further 5 to A&E if id had to but considering they kept me in an IC bed over night before operating it might not have been the best option... and second after a commutated fracture of my humerous at a climbing wall, the ambulance ride in was agony enough. I think I must have felt every bump in the road! I don't think I misused the 'service' on either account as they were genuine emergencies. Likewise I've also driven friends to A&E when we deemed it appropriate.

As a consequence I have a profound respect (and gratitude) for all the emergency services.

I think the point is really, is it a real emergency? Not being trained emergency responders inevitably sometimes ultimately (like muddydwarfs example above!) we will make 'mistakes'. And these are not the issue.

Stabbing herself with a staple though... Ye gods!

Oh, and all you people out there day in day out there 'just' doing your job: thanks!

Had to call 999 once: working in a fairly remote country pub, after hours, when it was attacked by 20 odd bikers who started using an axe to break down the front door. Called 999 asked for police and ambulance. We barricaded ourselves into the back kitchen. Armed ourselves as best we could and waited. Not fun! Entire staff resigned the next day.

On the broken leg point: when I was a lad I broke my leg right through (tib & fib) whilst sledging. My dad pulled me half a mile across the gold course on my sledge, we waited for my mum to finish shopping at the supermarket, then we went to the hospital and waited a couple of hours to be seen. No way we'd have called an ambulance for that one.

I've called 999 a few times. Last time was last week on the way to work. House with a chimney fire. Flames and sparks out of the chimney pot by about 2 metres. Banged on the door, the woman on her own didn't seem overly concerned, "Oh, it does that sometimes", and went back in the house and didn't come out again.

I called out the Fire Brigade, by the time they got there it was properly burning. The guys said it wasn't the first visit they'd made.

I must add at this point that in my case I wasn't the person to call the ambulance, it was the company nurse and the HR person. I was adamant that there was nothing wrong with me but I was over ruled. When the machine said I was having a heart attack I did start to doubt my own diagnosis though!

Just a note to remember the coastguards.
Thanks to them too.

I must add at this point that in my case I wasn't the person to call the ambulance

I didn't mention you for 'blame', more for even the 'experts' can get it wrong, what chance have we! I could sense your accute embarrassment, even from here... 😀

I've only called it once. When a huge bang turned out to be a gang of lads ram raiding a range rover through the golf shop across the road! The police were there in minutes, and after a car chase (helicopter and everyfink), nicked them all!!

My best mates a paramedic, so I know not only what a great job you do, but also that you're all barking mad! 😆

I did a brief comms course earlier in the week (the police communication civilians are going to lose up to £700 a month soon when their contracts are ripped up and cover will be needed when they strike). The trainers played a few actual recorded emergency calls, one man from Lancaster called 999 and said 'I'm having a shit, there's no bog roll'. Now that's an emergency.

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread, but it seems like a good question to ask ...
I went on speed awareness course last year and the guy quoted a phone number that can be used (instead of 999) to summon the emergency services which will record your location automatically rather than you needing to describe it yourself as you do with 999 apparently.
Anyone know what that number is, I can't remember. or did I dream that ?

I've lost count of the number of times I've called 999. Perhaps 7 or 8 in the last year alone. Certainly for the police you get a reasoned response. As soon as you mention a firearm an inspector is patched into the call, at least they were with me, I don't know if thats thesame for all forces.

On occasion I've had to deal with paramedics getting arsey with my first aid team because they didn't think they were required. My standard response is to explain the role of a first aider and my policy, which is to call 999 if we have serious concerns and let the experts deal with the diagnosis.

Worked as a manager in a busy retail outlet, so had to dial 999 on a regular basis. Without fail the ambulance crews were fantastic and have a near impossible job to do. My personal "favourite" was always the drunks passed out in the toilet puking up everywhere, who would then wake up in the ambulance and turn into total tossers. The crews naturally get really pissed off with this, especially since it is self inflicted. I'm all for a good night out, but the Canadian model of charging unless its a real emergency would soon empty their bank accounts -(actually on reflection it probably wouldnt - answers on a postcard please)

I've called 999 twice, both fairly recently.
First one was a bloke at work, in his 60s, who I spotted was having a stroke. I made the decision when the supervisor was umming and ahhing. I spotted something (can't remember what now) that was a tell tale sign of a stroke. He made a full recovery Ian few months, thankfully.
Second one was for Mrs PP. It was the middle of the night and I was in a daze, but I'd just worked out shed already passed out once on the landing when she did the same in the kitchen and hit her head hard on a wall on the way down.
Passing out and possible head injury = ambulance to me.

Sorry to slightly hijack the thread, but it seems like a good question to ask ...
I went on speed awareness course last year and the guy quoted a phone number that can be used (instead of 999) to summon the emergency services which will record your location automatically rather than you needing to describe it yourself as you do with 999 apparently.
Anyone know what that number is, I can't remember. or did I dream that ?

Are you thinking of 112 which works the same as 999 (due to it being the European emergency number).

Which I'm fairly certain just routes exactly the same way as 999 would, so allowing for the possibility of triangulation (the accuracy of which varies) if it's a mobile, and a physical location/address if a BT landline.

(There seems to be an email flying about just now with a story about how the police can pinpoint your exact location if you dial 112 not 999).

I called a while ago when I was the victim of a hit and run.

I wasn't so injured that I wasn't able to limp off afterwards, but I did ask for the police and state that I didn't require medical assistance. Correct or not?

Working this year on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve 6pm til 9am... guarantee we will have a house fire in the early hours as someone comes back from the pub pi&&ed and tries to make chips, happens every year. That and lighting all the table candles in the dining room for Christmas dinner then leaving them to burn while a decoration falls on them.

We will come out to flooding if it is affecting the electrics, to clarify the point above.

Have a happy and safe Christmas folks, and all you emergency folks have a q---t one. 🙂

I once called 999 for MR when we found a DoE group, one of whom had fallen (near devils kitchen) and had a head wound and concussion. Helped MR get then a bit further down and out of the low cloud to a point where the heli could pick them up. At the time I did initially consider helping them to walk off the hill, but in hindsight and confirmed by MR, 999 was the right call. Walked off the hill with MR and the rest of the group, who were quite shaken up especially the girl who'd slipped and knocked the injured part over.

I fell bouldering recently and ended up with similar head wound and consussion, as well as a broken wrist. I was adamant that with a few minutes to compose myself I could walk out back to the car. Although the fact I was slurring my speach (unknown to me) didn't instill confidence in those with me who seriously considered making a call. As it was I did walk back to the car for a trip to A&E. Luckily I had the right people with me to assist, and unusually I wasn't driving that day.

Another time I made a decision not to call an ambulance when maybe I should have, and was told I should have by the doctors/nurses when we got to hospital. This was for a 3am dash to hospital with missus 36 weeks pregnant. My reasoning was at that time of night with minimal traffic I could be at the hospital as quick (or quicker) than an ambulance could get to us, unless they happened to be in the area. Door to door 10 miles in 10 mins, god bless the 306 XSi. I miss that car.

I don't think any of those would have been classed as time wasting, at least not on the scale of the guy 'stabbed' with a staple, but was still reluctant to call unless absolutely necessary. I do tend to be quite 'indepenedent' like that. Still good to know the emergency services are there when you really do need them.

Had a ride in an ambulance in October when Gti Junior crashed his bike and knocked himself unconscious. The ambulance crew and the staff at Carlisle Hospital were fantastic, really excellent. The funny thing was that I'd had a premonition that he would crash.

I've had to call 999 a few times due to hockey injuries including one where it was a head to head contact and one guy came off 2nd best with a horrendous cracking noise from his neck. Thankfully it was just very very bad whiplash but our fella had to go be sick by the pitch as he thought he'd been involved in someones neck breaking

An old coach at uni decided not to call me an ambulance when i had my foot dislocated in a rugby match. Someone had to give me a lift to A&E and i then spent 5 days in hospital and six months on crutches. He'd even said i should 'walk it off' 😕