9-1-1 History

9-1-1 is a three digit number used for reporting emergencies 24-hrs a day, 365 days a year.  The first 9-1-1 call in the United States was placed in 1968 in Hayelville, Alabama.  Since that time it has spread throughout the United States and most of Canada.

Several other countries have 3-digit emergency dialing but they use different numbers.  For example, the United Kingdom uses 9-9-9 (Britain has the honor of establishing the first 3 digit dialing system in 1937).  In Australia you would dial 000, and in New Zealand you would use 1-1-1.