Thread: Misleading Ad

Probably a syndicated advert from Google.....

Misleading Ad

Why do we see just under the header of Aulro, every now and then, an ad that states "At the first sign of a stroke, Dial 911"?
That is not going to do much good here in Australia!

It is if you have a mobile, AFAIK it switches to 000.
Regards Philip A

The number may be wrong - but the advice is good!

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Misleading Ad

It is if you have a mobile, AFAIK it switches to 000.
Regards Philip A

Sorry, but no.

911 cannot be used in Australia.

This is due to some area codes (esp in NSW) starting with 911x xxxx.

The only way to contact emergency services in Australia is via 000, or 112 from a mobile (Police, Fire & Ambulance), 131 444 (Police non-emergency) or the SES on 132 500 (except NT).

More good info is on the ACMA web site.

ACMA - Emergency Call Services: FAQs

BTW - my kids have been taught how to call 000, and when to call, from an early age. Even if they are at a friends or the Grandparents, and don't know the actual address. The back-trace facility works well with landlines.

Oh, and btw - as far as I am concerned, everyone should have 1 fixed landline phone in their house. No power, no problems... think about it...


But yes, the ad companies need to take a little more care in which ads they place where...

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Misleading Ad

It is if you have a mobile, AFAIK it switches to 000.
Regards Philip A

Yes but landlines do not.

Garry

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Misleading Ad

It is if you have a mobile, AFAIK it switches to 000.
Regards Philip A

I do not have a mobile but during a short CPR course I did we were told the emergency number to ring from mobiles is 112, not 000. I remember hearing on the news sometime ago that a American tourist had his Toyota 4WD breakdown in the Australian desert, for a few days, and so rang 911, and got help.

John

The NSW Government is trying to quash this confusing message. Govt moves to clear up 000 confusion - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan says 000 is the number to ring in Australia.

"Mobile phones do have another number which is built into them, but I want to ensure people that number just goes through to the normal 000 call centre," he said.
"You don't jump any queues. You don't get faster service."
He says 112 does not work from landlines.
Jeff Gilchrist from the Ambulance Service says there is danger in promoting other numbers.
"We might lose calls and we might lose life," he said."

I am all against Americanism and fully support that 000 should be used in Australia BUT the reality is that we are bombarded by American culture and I am sure there is a large proportion of the population (mainly younger people) who actually believe the emergency number is 911. Now we should do our best to educate these people but I think the authorities have their heads in the sand to ignore this.

In my view, publically the number should be 000 and that should be promoted at all levels BUT behind the scenes if someone rings one of the more common emergency numbers used around the world such as 000, 112, 911, 999 that these should automatically divert to 000. For authorities to not allow this will cost lives if it has not already done so.

Garry