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

Rescue 911 was a very surreal and scary show when I was growing up. Oftentimes, events and situations occur without any sort of explanation and being sudden and serious. As a kid, I didn't quite understood exactly why that was and felt that emergencies can happen without warning and that there's nothing you can do about it.

As an adult, now I understand why a lot of episodes were so scary as a child. The show leaves out a very large chunk of details and I never noticed it as a child, but this show is rather political.

For example, nearly every gun related incident generally make it sound like gun shots are very serious and sudden and without warning. In one episode, victims were shown taken to a hospital, with no backstory other than they were shot, and somehow were talking and then suddenly died for no reason. Other times, a rapist enters a house where a woman with no firearm training, tried to learn to shoot in a few seconds where the criminal was able to overpower her. After the episode, she came on to say she gave her guns to the police and told people don't worry the police will help you more so than any gun would. Seems to be very political to me for the time.

Other episodes involve similar absent of information that would make more sense. For example, in one segment a man entered a woman's apartment and her child called 911. It was very obvious from the way it was explained that the woman was being actively assaulted but yet the way it was narrated was as if nothing was going on and things were very casual. As an adult I understood what was going on but as a kid, there's no way I would understand.

Some episodes leave out very critical details that involve things like seizures, bleeding, drug uses, etc that all leave out some very critical detail that would make a big impact in the presentation and understanding of the events unfolding.

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!

I was little when I used to watch this show, probably under 5 years old. I don't remember William Shatner, but I do remember certain episodes: the one where a boy locked himself in the trunk of a car, and one where a child licked a tray of ice cubes and got his/her tongue stuck to it. The ice cube one has always stuck in my memory, and any time after I saw that episode and got my tongue stuck on a Popsicle, I knew how to get it unstuck without freaking out.

This show showed real stories and helped families learn what to do in certain situations. It was both entertaining and educational - a great combination.