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![911 911](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125848239/792023689.jpg)
The ability to dial a single number to report emergencies was first used in Great Britain, in 1937. The British could dial 999 to call for police, medical or fire departments, from anywhere in the country. In 1958, the American Congress first investigated a universal emergency number for the United States and finally passed the legal mandate in 1967. The very first American 911 call was placed on February 16, 1968, in Haleyville, Alabama made by Alabama Speaker of the House, Rankin Fite and answered by Congressman Tom Bevill. Fitzgerald examined all twenty-seven Alabama exchanges choosing the Haleyville location, and then engineered the new circuitry and made the modifications needed for the existing equipment. Fitzgerald and his team worked around the clock to install the first 911 emergency system in under one week. The team worked their regular day jobs in Fayette, traveling each night to Haleyville to do the 911 work during off-peak hours.
If you're in an emergency situation abroad, you'll need to know how to contact the police, an ambulance, or even the fire. Bureau of Emergency Communications. Our Mission Statement. Work collaboratively with our community and public safety partners to ensure effective and timely 911 call answering and dispatching.
The work was completed on February 16, 1968, at exactly 2 p.m. Celebrated with a team cheer of 'Bingo!'
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