Rescue 911

This show was what we in the industry term as Compelling TV. It was an addictive show that re-enacted all sorts of horrible and gruesome events that leaded up to an actual call to 911. The best part of the show was that it was broken up into segments that were, in effect, 15 minute scoldings for stupid behavior. For instance, a man mishandles a .357 magnum and shoots his friend through the back while they are out in the woods, away from all civilization (and hospitals). Or, 2 girls are playing in a drainage ditch (which is illegal and very dangerous) when it suddenly fills with water and they are swept away. How about the time that some youngsters decided to outrun a train and didn't quite make it. Who could forget the kid who stuck his tongue to the frozen peas. We learned that a cup of water would remedy that situation. (That kid denied the whole incident by saying he was licking his lips because he was so hungry and then his tongue got stuck. Yeah right! Just admit it-your predicament educated the entire country and the ensuing remedy was even referenced in Dumb and Dumber). Then there was the time that a man was cleaning his pool and hit the strainer against a power line, resulting in cardiac arrest. In effect, America learned that rules are made for a reason and that warning labels should always be read; if not, disastrous consequences might ensue. Also, America learned that if an accident did occur, brave men and women would drop everything and risk their lives to save you. It doesn't matter if you deserve it or if it is your fault-help is always on the way.

I started watching Rescue 911, when I was younger. Now that I am a mom, my kids (well my 11 yr old daughter, my 3 yr old son doesn't care too much) & I think it teaches what can happen if you do this, or how to prevent something from happening, to begin with. I even watched an episode where a boy gave CPR, to someone, he knew, and he had learned it from watching the show. It saves lives!! They show a variety of accidents, babies coming early, people getting sick and they quit breathing, police chases, and even break ins. I remember hearing only 3 stories of where someone died. One was the Guadalupe River story, where the teens drowned, when the bus was over consumed in flood water (some lived, but some did die sadly), 2 teens sniffed paint and one died, and a man tried to save a drowning victim, and he died (the man attempting the rescue). However, they are so many happy endings!! They should have kept it longer, but glad they show reruns!

William Shatner wasn't the great host that Robert Stack was for Unsolved Mysteries or Leonard Nimoy for In Search Of.. or Peter Thomas for Forensic Files. He acted as if this whole thing was just a big bore to him. I used to enjoy watching this show though and it amazed and at times horrified me at how people got hurt thru their own foolishness. Like the two stories they had on there about boys who were badly burned playing with gas. The episodes of "emergencies" all had happy endings, save for one. This teenage boy was "huffing" a can of butane. He practically inhaled the entire can and went into cardiac arrest. He died that night in the hospital. It was heartbreaking to watch, but I think it provided a good lesson to kids.

Lucy 774, you have no idea what you are talking about. I am 22 years old. I watched the series premier back in 1989 when I was 3 years old, and I never missed a single episode until the show was canceled in 1996. It was and still is the best show that I have ever watched. This show is about real stories of people who have real life emergencies and the actions of the people who help to make sure the victims come through the ordeals with the best possible outcome. I am happy to say that I was able to save my own mother's life by implementing Cardio-Pulmonary Recesitation skills that I learned as a result of "Rescue 911". I thank God that this unbelievably spectacular show was created because had it not been, I would not have had the vital skills necessary to save the life of the most important person in my life. I still pray every night that CBS would bring back this show. To make my point on everything that I have said in this review, I would like you to go to www.youtube.com and click on the video clip entitled "Rescue 911 - 200 Lives - Segment 1, and watch the speech that William Shatner makes. Once you see that clip, you will understand why this show is so inspiring. I just started watching clips on youtube and they made me realize how much I enjoy helping other people. This afternoon, I went to my town's volunteer fire dept. Please CBS, bring back this show.

I would like to see a new version of the show. I like how the show explains real accidents that actually happened.