Re:My dad could still be alive, but he's not
by Xunie on Wednesday November 12, 2025 @11:20PM
(#45910587)
Someone, please, for the love of all that is holy: Set up a website with information on how to reach emergency services from x to y country. People are literally dying here.
I once tried to call an ambulance on an active suicide attempt in the United States (while I myself was in Europe).
Problem 1: What number should I call? My country's national emergency line could not help and had no direct communication with ANY emergency services in the USA. Unable to find the phone number for EMS in the USA, I called the local police department which was answering their regular phone line at that time.
Problem 2: This requires long distance calling and local police departments do not accept collect calls.
Problem 3: Police receptionist was hesitant to connect me to dispatch but did so anyways.
Problem 4: I am now easily 10-20 minutes into making an emergency phone call and I haven't even talked to anyone able to help me.
Problem 5: Ambulance took another 10-15 minutes to even show up.
I explicitly stated "they just took pills, they have no neurological symptoms right now, do not leave immediately."
Problem 6: Ambulance left after a simple "it's a prank call" given at the front door.
Not much later, this person started showing severe neurological symptoms. I repeated the call, told them they were now actively dying and needed help. Luckily an ambulance came and helped this person, but it was an incredibly close call.
I once tried to call an ambulance on an active suicide attempt in the United States (while I myself was in Europe).
Problem 1: What number should I call? My country's national emergency line could not help and had no direct communication with ANY emergency services in the USA. Unable to find the phone number for EMS in the USA, I called the local police department which was answering their regular phone line at that time.
Problem 2: This requires long distance calling and local police departments do not accept collect calls.
Problem 3: Police receptionist was hesitant to connect me to dispatch but did so anyways.
Problem 4: I am now easily 10-20 minutes into making an emergency phone call and I haven't even talked to anyone able to help me.
Problem 5: Ambulance took another 10-15 minutes to even show up.
I explicitly stated "they just took pills, they have no neurological symptoms right now, do not leave immediately."
Problem 6: Ambulance left after a simple "it's a prank call" given at the front door.
Not much later, this person started showing severe neurological symptoms. I repeated the call, told them they were now actively dying and needed help. Luckily an ambulance came and helped this person, but it was an incredibly close call.