911 or 119?
The emergency phone number in the US and Canada is 911. Guess what it is in China? You're right - it's exactly the opposite, 119. I would have liked to have been in on the meeting where the PRC authorities decided what number to use. It could have been 777, 000, 111, 321 or whatever. But somebody had to suggest doing just the opposite of what the North Americans did. There's a meaning here. And yes, North America's 911 originated before China's 119 did.
When you look at emergency numbers around the world you find that most countries have a unique number to call for emergencies. In Australia it's 000 so I'm sure lots of thick-fingered Ozzies trying to dial the operator end up at Emergency Services instead. Why don't we have a universal emergency number? Obviously to make sure it's the locals that get saved first.
The emergency phone number in the US and Canada is 911. Guess what it is in China? You're right - it's exactly the opposite, 119. I would have liked to have been in on the meeting where the PRC authorities decided what number to use. It could have been 777, 000, 111, 321 or whatever. But somebody had to suggest doing just the opposite of what the North Americans did. There's a meaning here. And yes, North America's 911 originated before China's 119 did.
When you look at emergency numbers around the world you find that most countries have a unique number to call for emergencies. In Australia it's 000 so I'm sure lots of thick-fingered Ozzies trying to dial the operator end up at Emergency Services instead. Why don't we have a universal emergency number? Obviously to make sure it's the locals that get saved first.
posted by Kevcham at 6:01 AM
1 Comments:
In the US the number to call the highway patrol from your cell phone in an emergency is different in each state. Some have 911, 77, 55, 45. It looks as if they could have a commen number so people would know what to call. After all, people are not always driving in their own state when they have an emergency.
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