this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2025

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100

What was it like the first time you had to call 911? (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 days ago by Dalacos@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

68 comments fedilink hide all child comments

911 is the emergency number here in Canada if you're unfamiliar. 112, 999, etc if you're elsewhere IIRC.

Do you remember the first time you had to use it?

What were you thinking, feeling?

First time I had to use it in earnest I was working front end at a post office and there was a random guy doing maintenance behind me in the back area of the office. Barely said a word to him, he barely said a word to me. I was fairly busy and he seemed kinda gruff.

Bit later all of a sudden he taps me on the shoulder pretty aggressively, I turned and was getting ready to give him some not-polite words about touching me like that and how he better not damn well do that again but I stopped when I saw the look on his face.

He just says, "call 911."

I look blankly at him, getting some mental whiplash, and just dumbly go, "what?"

Him, "I'm having a fucking heart-attack, CALL 911!"

That got through so I called them, gave them the info. He went back into the office and laid down.

I was a bit in shock myself and just looked at the customers in line in front of me and said to the woman, "he's having a heart attack, sorry."

Honestly think I could've handled the situation better, at least gone back and been more empathetic but I was caught between him, customers, and making sure I was visible so I could wave the paramedics to where they needed to go.

The post office there was tucked into the back corner and most of the store didn't even know about it until I told them later that day.

Never heard anything after, no clue if the guy survived, or not. Didn't see him again either way.

You?

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[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 25 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Family argument got so loud and I got scared, like it felt like there was about to be a fight, or maybe there was already a fight... memory is blurry... I remember one of those incidents, either my parents or my older brother threw objects at each other...

I called and didn't feel brave enough to actually say anything, just hung up. Nothing happened.

Oh jeez the flashbacks are coming back...

this happens a lot, I would often just have 911 ready

it's not like I trust cops, there's no other option, so I was just yolo-ing it, I was scared, idk what I'm supposed to do.

one time I got through and like just let the phone listen to the argument in the background, but then I got so scared I hung up

again, nothing happened, I was more afraid of my parents getting mad at me for getting the law involved.

its always just parents vs older brother arguments...

you gotta understand, this is the brother that I remember when I was like 5 or something, he tied me up with zipties, and once I got so scare of him chasing me around the house, my undeveloped brain made the stupid decision to just leave the apartment and I went looking for my mother at her workplace.

I think I hung up on 911 because I still... dispite being a decade here, felt alien to this place. Abusive family members felt more "closer" than everyone else in society.

wtf

If we were still in China, I might've have the courage to actually say "family violence" into the phone. (and probably get ignored since China doesn't care about family violence anyways)

oh fuck fuck fuck that memory was so scary.

not just once, it happened multiple times

thinking about it makes my heartbeat go up

[–] Badabinski@kbin.earth 19 points 3 days ago

Childhood trauma is horrible, I'm sorry ): you deserved a safe home, and it's tragic you felt so scared that you had to call the cops.