It is good that you are prepared and know what to do in such cases. Many people even do not know, what they should do in extremal situations. And this fact can cause many tragedies. =_=
dejavuagain, oh my gosh, I hadn't thought of that :0
I remember one time at work I was using an IBM selectric typewriter and felt some eyes staring at me... it was a child about 14 years old so had come into the office with her grandmother, and she was wonder what I was using, she never saw a machine like that before.
"At least with a landline, we all grew up knowing how to dial the number."
freqflyer, I'm not so sure the younger generation would know what to do with an old-fashioned land line, especially one with a rotary dial! I can just see them trying to punch in the number through each little hole... LOL!
Having your location available on your cell phone is a good idea and it could be a lifesaver if you are out and about with no other means of communications. However, in addition to what freqflyer and cwillie said, consider what often happens when there is a storm or other interruption in cell service. A corded telephone may be the only functioning device in the entire house. There should be at least one telephone attached to its base by an old-fashioned cord to ensure that you can call 911 or communicate with others in an emergency. There was one time we were not able to use our land line during a power outage. We found out later that the phone company's emergency back-up power became disabled, but that is rare.
If you have enhanced 911 service (I thought everyone did by now) your land-line phone will relay your location to the dispatcher, and many land-line phones are designed with big buttons, one button dialing and other enhancements to accommodate disabilities and are easier for seniors to manipulate. Your cell is great if you are out and about, but even with tracking capabilities routing your 911 call to the correct dispatch is not always guaranteed, as some residents of border cities have discovered.
I refuse to give up my landline. Anyone coming into the house to visit can find a landline phone in just about every room of my home quicker than they could find their own cellphone, if they even have one. Seconds count.
When one dials 911 from a landline the emergency dispatch center sees your address on their screen the second they answer your call. Thus the EMTs are are on their way to your home while you are still on the phone with dispatch.
If I only had my sig other's cellphone to call 911, I would be totally lost on how to use it because it is so different from my cellphone. Some people have their cellphones password locked so what good would that be. At least with a landline, we all grew up knowing how to dial the number.
Hi Connie. It's true. That call to 911 is so important. Recently my mother had a seizure while I was on the other side of our house. A part-time aide recognized what was happening and told my stepfather to call 911. Instead he went running across the house yelling for me, telling me to call 911 (he did the same thing the first time we needed the assistance of 911). He won't break down and get a cell phone. But I do plan to work with him, ever so gently, so that he might be able to dial those crucial digits on his own. Who knows, it could be me who needs the paramedics. I would hope someone would be here to call 911 but I have a feeling it would still fall on my shoulders! Thanks for the cell phone alert!
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How Your Cell Phone Can Save Your Life
I remember one time at work I was using an IBM selectric typewriter and felt some eyes staring at me... it was a child about 14 years old so had come into the office with her grandmother, and she was wonder what I was using, she never saw a machine like that before.
freqflyer, I'm not so sure the younger generation would know what to do with an old-fashioned land line, especially one with a rotary dial! I can just see them trying to punch in the number through each little hole... LOL!
When one dials 911 from a landline the emergency dispatch center sees your address on their screen the second they answer your call. Thus the EMTs are are on their way to your home while you are still on the phone with dispatch.
If I only had my sig other's cellphone to call 911, I would be totally lost on how to use it because it is so different from my cellphone. Some people have their cellphones password locked so what good would that be. At least with a landline, we all grew up knowing how to dial the number.