Should you call 911? This service is meant for specific situations, but some people have been coddled into thinking their entire lives are emergencies.
It should go without saying, but we have to say it, some 911 calls are necessary, but most are not. If you have a true medical emergency, calling emergency services to summon, police, fire, rescue, or EMS to aid you is certainly appropriate. Unfortunately, some people have become conditioned to believe these people are there to solve every situation, even those that are not actual emergencies.
Here are some of the dumbest 911 calls logged recently.
The dry cleaner stained their shirt
It seems that the ability to interact with other people to solve issues has become lost on some people. Even if the dry cleaner isn’t willing to take responsibility, a stained shirt is not a life-and-death emergency and doesn’t require a call to emergency services. It’s a shirt, which means that it’s not that important, even if it’s your favorite shirt. Resolve the situation with the dry cleaner and move on; don’t bother people who are needed for actual emergencies.
McDonald’s wouldn’t open their doors
Like it or not, the opening time of any business could be changed without notice because their staff might not have shown up in time, the staff needs to hold a meeting, or your watch is running a little fast. Your morning McDonald’s run, or late night snacking needs do not require a call to emergency services. If you don’t want to be among those people making one of the dumbest 911 calls, consider your actions before dialing those three digits.
How do you get to…?
911 is not GPS. Let’s say it again for those in the back: 911 is not GPS. They are part of the emergency services network. Your inability to utilize the GPS on your phone or handle simple directions does not constitute an emergency. Do not call emergency services to get directions to a store or other location. You’re taking up valuable time and resources that are required to help people who are having actual emergencies. If you can’t find your way and need to make a phone call, try a friend or family member first.
Neighbor wears too much cologne
This one should be pretty obvious, but it’s been logged and is among the dumbest 911 calls ever made. If your neighbor wears too much cologne, there are a few things you can do, but you should not call emergency services. All you will get from them is laughter, even if you don’t hear it on the call. You could ask your neighbor to wear less cologne, stay further away from them so you don’t smell it, use a fan to blow the smell back in their direction or ignore it.
Rotten avocados
In an age in which grocery delivery is a big part of our lives, you might get some rotten food from time to time. When this happens, you don’t need to call emergency services. Instead, call the store from which the food came and handle it appropriately. It boggles the mind why some people are incapable of thinking through such a simple problem. In most cases, the store will refund your purchase or replace the food without charging you an additional delivery fee.
Phone left in an Uber
This one goes along the same lines as the call about rotten food. If you leave your phone in an Uber, you have a much better chance of getting it back than if you leave it somewhere else. Instead of becoming one of the people making the dumbest 911 calls and getting put on the wall of shame, call Uber and get in touch with the driver to get your phone back. You are the one who left it in the car in the first place; take a little responsibility for your own actions.
Need help removing a wasp’s nest
While a wasp’s nest outside your door could become a bit of a challenge and an emergency if you’re allergic to wasp stings, removing the nest does not constitute the need to call emergency services. Let’s think about this for a second. Maybe you could ask a neighbor for their advice and help, or you could look up how to remove the nest on YouTube and try some of the tips included.
These are only a few of the dumbest 911 calls logged recently. It’s amazing how many of these stupid calls are made to a service that we are all taught from a young age, which is meant for actual emergencies involving medical needs, safety, and security.