With emergency services getting an estimated 240 million calls a year, 911 operators encounter some very interesting kinds of ‘emergencies’ on occasion.
Sure, they get their fair share of serious calls from people who actually need emergency assistance, but they also answer some pretty weird calls from people who may have a different definition of what an emergency really is.
Here are some of the most hilarious and downright bizarre things people have called 911 for:
#1 Major allergic reaction
While we can’t really blame moms for being overprotective, this mom who called for something as silly as packing peanuts took things to a whole new level. Hopefully, she soon figured out that the cushioning material is actually made of foam and not real peanuts.
#2 Early morning struggles
Sometimes you just have a hankering for a specific food first thing in the morning. But instead of wasting an emergency hotline’s time, people should realize that asking Google the same question would yield faster and better results.
#3 A maternity test?
It’s quite hard to believe that this caller might have forgotten she gave birth to a baby, huh? Things would get a bit more believable if she gave the baby up early on and hasn’t seen them in years. Still, this call seems just a tad suspicious.
#4 Alien invasion
We wonder what strong stuff these people who called in stars as UFOs were on. Maybe they’ve just been watching too many alien autopsy videos.
#5 Worst way to break up with someone
That girl probably felt so embarrassed by the way her (hopefully) ex-boyfriend ended things with her. Ghosting is bad enough, imagine finding out that your boyfriend is desperate enough to call 911 to break things off.
#6 Killer kitty
Believe it or not, calling 911 for anything but actual emergencies is actually against the law. Unfortunately, this lady with the killer cat had to learn it the hard way.
#7 ‘Buying’ a kid
Here’s something straight out of a comedy bit. It’s a good thing the responder was kind enough to help the caller solve their rather unusual problem. Also, how on earth did a kid get trapped inside a newspaper box in the first place?
#8 Not today, clown
Concerned citizens can be the best and worst types of callers. On the one hand, they can be reporting a real crime they’re witnessing. Or they can be like this lady who’s just incredulous over overpriced balloons.
#9 Looking for an exit
Don’t laugh. We’ve all had it happen when we were kids. We’re just happy he finally managed to get through the door.
#10 A breakfast massacre
We hope she managed to recover from the shock. Breakfast may be an essential meal, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be frightening now and then.
#11 False alarm
Criminals preying on the elderly are definitely awful. But these poor gas company workers were just trying to do their job, only to have the police called on them.
#12 Trouble in the kitchen
Kudos to this 911 operator for humoring a troubled caller’s woes and actually assisting them on their kitchen problems. They might have just saved the person’s family Thanksgiving dinner.
#13 Virtual domestic dispute
Now, this case is one for the books. Imagine being such a sore loser that you’d resort to reporting your own spouse for domestic abuse…in a video game.
#14 Sports frustrated
It looks like Americans aren’t the only people in the world who take sports way too seriously. Maybe the caller just had a ton of money on the line for that soccer game?
#15 Not very helpful
We wonder how the caller reacted after finding out that they’re still speaking with the exact person they want to complain about. That would’ve been another hilarious conversation, we bet.
#16 Bad kitty
Sometimes you just have to give your cat some space when they need it. The consequences, as the call demonstrated, can be dire if their personal space is violated.
#17 Concerned for a helicopter
That neighbor was just probably worried that the helicopter might actually malfunction and land in their backyard. Although still a bit silly, we could see the cause of the caller’s alarm.
#18 Facebook terrorism
This poor guy probably just clicked the wrong button and ended up sending a friend request to a complete stranger from the other side of the world. And this lady seemed pretty spooked because of it.
#19 Unidentified vehicle
Imagine being so rich and buying tons of cars that you completely forget about actually purchasing one of them. First world problems don’t get better than this.
#20 They’re coming to take me away
If someone is at your door trying to kidnap you, calling 911 makes sense. If it’s the police there to arrest you, 911 might not be of much assistance.
#21 Transferring a fire
While it would really be convenient if firefighters could ‘pick up a fire and move it a mile or two’ away, we’re afraid the laws of physics just won’t allow it. Maybe in the far away future, though.
#22 Calling the police on the police
We could only imagine the shock on the police officers’ faces if the caller actually ended up convincing the dispatcher to help him avoid getting arrested. Now, that would be something straight out of a comedy sketch.
#23 One aggressive goose
Some geese are just plain mean, and this is proof of it. While the caller was right to call animal control, we still find the situation absolutely hilarious and ridiculous.
#24 Just another night shift call
Sometimes, imaginary emergencies are just as important as real ones. Well, almost.
#25 Well..which one is which?
We wonder how this caller survived for so long without learning about the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon. We’re betting they aren’t much of a cook either.
#26 Under 21
It can suck being under 21 and not being sold alcohol. However, if you have to call 911 to get more beer, you might already be drunk enough.
#27 Fighting over Sparky
While we can sympathize with the distress of this panicking pet parent, she wasn’t doing much to help her situation. Hopefully, she calmed down when the officer arrived to help her get back her fur baby.
#28 ‘I’ve been poisoned’
Pot may be one of the milder recreational drugs, but it can still lead to some unforeseen experiences. We hope the caller felt better after a few hours.
#29 Meth is ‘legal’
It’s good to be proud of the things you have worked hard to get. But this guy should have probably opted to keep this achievement to himself instead of setting the authorities after him.
#30 What happens when you’re never up that early
Hey, it’s a mistake anyone could make…if they tend to sleep in until noon.
#31 Not crazy
When someone begins their call trying to prove their sanity, you know you’re in for a wild ride. We’re hoping the caller’s roommates took care of their tripping friend after that.
#32 ‘Higher taxpayer’ privileges
Life isn’t always like in the movies. Sometimes, you just have to call a cab.
#33 Christmas morning emergency
We hope the caller’s entire Christmas day wasn’t totally ruined by officers showing up at their front door. It probably taught them to be more mindful of their 911 use, though.
#34 Attempted murder
Having allergies to common foods is tough. But is it really call-911-on-a-pizza-place bad? Probably not.
#35 Nobody messes with the snowman
Some people take their holiday and winter traditions seriously. This caller is most likely one of them. However, he was better off just building another snowman again rather than bothering 911 with his call.
#36 Stuck in a pileup
Most people who just survived or witnessed a pileup would be shook up after. Not this woman. It looks like she couldn’t care less and just wanted a fast way home.
#37 Enraged over a rock
Growing up, you’ve probably encountered that one neighbor who’s so obsessed with their lawn. This is likely what they’re up to now.
#38 A swimming deer
Now this one’s kind of sweet, actually. This woman was so concerned over a deer’s welfare that she called in to report the incident.
#39 Unidentified garden animal
We can’t really blame this Chinese lady. Hedgehogs can look pretty freaky upon first glance. Imagine never knowing they existed and then randomly seeing one in your backyard.
#40 Not always an ordinary situation
We can’t blame this operator for assuming the woman was only talking about her cat. How often does that particular story go in another direction?
#41 The morning after
Some guys would just brag about waking up to a bed full of women, even if they can’t remember much of the night before. This man is certainly not one of them. Still, his frustration is quite understandable considering they won’t leave.
#42 A dangerous car
We kind of get the concern of this caller. We have to say, though, a machine gun looks nothing like a camera.
#43 Not a wise move
Here’s a reminder not to call anybody while under the influence. You might just end up getting yourself into more serious trouble.
#44 Literally turning blue
This poor girl probably thought she had a bad reaction to all the booze she drank at the club that night. Maybe that’s the universe’s way of punishing her for wearing blue jeans to go clubbing.
#45 A sweet message
Working on holidays is a bummer. So, this one’s actually a pretty nice thing to do for the caller. Hopefully, they didn’t get punished for the kind gesture.
#46 One crazy mother
That poor kid has probably dealt with more ridiculous things thanks to his mother’s antics. We hope things have improved for both of them.
#47 Part-time tutor
On nights when calls are sparse, it’s probably fine to spend a few minutes helping out a caller on simple problems. Although, we wonder why the girl with the math homework didn’t just ask her parents for help.
#48 Not an emergency but…
This is one of the few instances when a crazy 911 call actually turns out to be 100% true. We’re guessing seeing that kid running around in a monkey suit was probably a surreal sight for the responders.
#49 A Bandit on the loose
While most of the calls police respond to are serious, sometimes they still manage to find time to have fun. We hope they caught the masked bandit!
#50 A menacing wildcat
Never underestimate cats. They may appear docile and harmless, but they can turn mean pretty quickly. Still, we wonder why the caller mistook a tabby cat for a bobcat. Sure, they have the same coloring, but the latter are definitely much larger.
#51 Suspicious activity
Sometimes things aren’t as suspicious as they seem. Well, at least until junk food becomes illegal.
#52 Dangerous wildlife
We all just want a peaceful existence. Sometimes, that might mean calling the police on a dangerous…um…turtle.
#53 Bad drug deal
Well, that’s a conundrum. Technically, he was robbed.
#54 Some serious hedges
Ugly hedges should be a crime according to a few people. However, even if they were illegal, they probably wouldn’t get anyone the death penalty.
#55 Seriously, quit stealing the remote
We’ve all had to struggle over the remote now and then. Rarely does the struggle end in a 911 call.
#56 Bad advice
While the subject of the call was funny, we hope everything turned out okay for the elderly caller.
#57 It’s the washing machine, again
Washing machines do tend to make a lot of noise when they’re on. Sometimes, they might sound like they’re coming straight out of the underworld.
#58 Free water
While an overwatered lawn can be a tragedy on occasion, it might not be worthy of a police response. The 911 operator was right to share this one with the world.
#59 Problem with the Amber alert
Since its inception in the 1990s, the Amber alert has helped numerous children in danger. However, this man doesn’t seem to agree with the emergency message. In fact, he was so resolute in his opinion that he even called in a report against it.
#60 She needs an ‘ambalance’
Wouldn’t it be nice if people could have medical services delivered to them via an ambulance? Well, this lady sure thinks so. Too bad that’s not how things work…yet.
#61 An iPhone emergency
If only there was an app for that. We wonder if they made it to the store on time.
#62 chicken emergency
Sometimes you’re really hungry. Sometimes there’s a line at the drive-thru. And on a very rare occasion, this results in a 911 call.
#63 It’s a bird
An intruder can be scary. A bird intruder, however, can usually be solved by opening a window.
#64 Someone to talk to
While this is a little sad, it’s definitely not worthy of a 911 call. Those operators are there to save lives.
#65 Ruined expectations
If false advertising were an emergency-call level event, the dispatch phone would never stop ringing. We hope it was just a malfunctioning machine at McDonalds and that her next purchase was exactly as advertised.
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Source: Bored Panda, Flickr/Cuatrok