Selects: 911 Is Not a Joke

Summary of Selects: 911 Is Not a Joke

by iHeartPodcasts

54m•June 6, 2026
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Overview of Selects: 911 Is Not a Joke

This Stuff You Should Know “Selects” episode revisits the history and modern realities of the 911 emergency system, beginning with a 2020 episode about how 911 works, why it exists, what it’s for, and where it still falls short. The hosts explain the system’s origins, how it evolved from landlines to wireless phones and texting, and why the emergency response infrastructure is still catching up to today’s technology. They also touch on abuse of 911, operator burnout, racial bias in policing, and a few common myths about how to use the system.

Main Topics Covered

The purpose of 911: what to call for

The episode opens with a practical rundown of when to call 911 and when not to:

  • Call 911 for:

    • Fires or smoke that could be a fire
    • Medical emergencies
    • Serious car accidents with injuries
    • Crimes in progress or violent situations
    • Animal attacks or emergencies involving immediate danger

  • Do not call 911 for:

    • Cat-in-a-tree situations
    • Speeding tickets or traffic questions
    • Power outages
    • Loud neighbors or other non-emergencies
    • Minor animal issues unless there’s immediate danger

The hosts emphasize that non-emergency police lines exist for a reason.

How 911 began

A big focus is the history of emergency calling:

  • The U.K. launched 999 in London in 1937, becoming the first place with a three-digit emergency number.
  • In the U.S., 911 was developed later through collaboration between AT&T, the FCC, and public safety organizations.
  • The first U.S. 911 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama, in February 1968, as a publicity event.
  • The system slowly rolled out across the country through the 1970s and 1980s, with rural areas often lagging behind due to cost.

How 911 worked in the landline era

The episode explains the original landline-based model:

  • Calls went through a dedicated switchboard to a PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point).
  • Enhanced 911 later added:
    • ANI: Automatic Number Identification
    • ALI: Automatic Location Identification
  • This meant dispatchers could see the caller’s number and address, which was a major life-saving improvement.

The Modern 911 Problem

Why cell phones broke the old system

The hosts stress that the current 911 infrastructure is still largely built for the landline era:

  • Most 911 calls now come from wireless phones.
  • Traditional landline-style location data no longer works reliably for mobile users.
  • Today’s system often only gets:
    • the nearest cell tower
    • rough GPS coordinates
  • That can still be too imprecise in rural areas or emergencies where every second matters.

Next Generation 911

They discuss the emerging upgrade known as NG911:

  • Designed to bring 911 into the internet era
  • Will support:
    • text
    • photos
    • video
    • more precise location data
  • Tied to broader public-safety infrastructure like FirstNet, a dedicated broadband network for first responders

The big point: 911 is improving, but the rollout is uneven and slower than the pace of consumer tech.

911 Best Practices and Safety Tips

If you accidentally call 911

A practical tip the hosts highlight:

  • Do not hang up immediately
  • Stay on the line and explain it was accidental
  • Hanging up can trigger a callback or welfare check

Myths and workarounds

The episode also addresses a few urban legends:

  • The “ordering a pizza” code is a myth; don’t rely on it.
  • In some places, silent calls can trigger responses, but it depends on the system and location.
  • Texting 911 is increasingly available and especially useful when:
    • speaking out loud is unsafe
    • the caller is hearing impaired
    • the caller is hiding or unable to talk

Social Issues and Human Impact

Suspicious activity, bias, and race

One of the most thoughtful parts of the episode examines the danger of calling 911 on “suspicious” people too quickly:

  • The hosts distinguish between suspicious behavior and simply being a person who looks out of place.
  • They note that racial bias can lead to unnecessary and harmful 911 calls.
  • A cited ACLU study found much slower response times in a predominantly Black neighborhood compared with a white neighborhood in Chicago.

The episode frames this as a reminder that 911 decisions can have serious, sometimes fatal consequences.

911 dispatchers as first responders

The hosts strongly argue that call-takers and dispatchers are effectively first responders:

  • They often coach callers through:
    • CPR
    • the Heimlich maneuver
    • childbirth
    • active shooter situations
    • domestic violence
    • suicide crises
  • The job is emotionally taxing:
    • no closure in many cases
    • exposure to trauma and death
    • high burnout and turnover

Key Takeaways

  • 911 is essential but outdated in parts.
  • Landline-era assumptions still shape the system, even though most calls now come from cell phones.
  • Text, photo, and video support are the future, but rollout is uneven.
  • Use 911 only for real emergencies and local non-emergency lines for everything else.
  • Be careful about calling on “suspicious” people; behavior matters more than appearance.
  • Dispatchers do life-saving work and deserve recognition as first responders.

Closing Note

The episode ends with listener mail responding to a previous discussion about racism in the military, but the main takeaway remains the same: 911 is one of the most important public-safety systems in the country, yet it still reflects old technology, uneven access, and human bias.