Got a problem? Keep it here on 191, say Thai police

[webfact]

Got a problem? Keep it here on 191, say Thai police


Image: tnamcot

BANGKOK: -- Thai police have moved swiftly to reassure the public - the emergency number is 191, always has been and always will be.

The move comes after online suggestions came that the number would be replaced by 911 that is used in some other countries, reported tnamcot.

Chief Panurat Lakbun said that there was no truth to rumors circulating that the number was going to change. In fact anyone suggesting such a thing could face a long jail term.

Panurat said that confusing the public and creating problems for those in distress by suggesting a new number could lead to a prison term of 5 years or a fine of 500,000 baht or both.

People could be prosecuted under the computer crimes act.

He was speaking at a press conference where the number was displayed along with the tagline "The number the public can depend on".

The number 911 is used in the United States, Canada and Brazil but not Thailand, he said.

Source: tnamcot


-- 2016-07-26

[WhizBang]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

[Thailand]

The 8 year old pink paper tearers at their dastardly deeds again?

[worgeordie]

Why not make it 999 easier to remember and dial.

regards worgeordie

[BigBadGeordie]

Why not make it 999 easier to remember and dial.

regards worgeordie

Showing your age now Geordie, "DIAL"

;-)

[robblok]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

[lupin]

Panurat said that confusing the public and creating problems for those in distress by suggesting a new number could lead to a prison term of 5 years or a fine of 500,000 baht or both.

Phuket Gazette - November 26, 2015

Thailand has officially adopted 911 as its emergency hotline number, confirmed Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada.

The decision to implement the emergency number was due to tourists' familiarity with the 911 hotline number already, prompting several other countries to implement its use as well.

“The Cabinet approved the use of the number months ago,” said Governor Chamroen. “For some reason, the public relations campaign never really took off. Therefore, I felt the need to make the announcement that everyone can now dial 911 for emergencies, 24 hours a day.”

[Thian]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

Exactly, there are only 250 million americans on the world, only 4 times more then Thai persons. There are much more Europeans though so let them go metric.

[geriatrickid]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

Another display of European arrogance and anti American bias.

The 911 concept was first used in Canada for the Winnipeg police services. It replaced 999 and was selected based upon US studies that showed 911 was easiest to remember and to dial without error. Despite European assumptions, North America was where the concept of central dispatching and combined first responder practice was developed. Ever hear of something called Paramedics? That was pioneered in North America too. You know the strategy of stoop and scoop for trauma victims? North American concept. It's the rest of the world that is lagging behind.

Why go off on a tangent about metric? Metric and emergency dispatch have nothing in common. And fyi, high tech industry in the USA uses metric, especially where exports are key.

Edited July 26, 2016 by geriatrickid

[Basil B]

Why not make it 999 easier to remember and dial.

regards worgeordie

Also problematic with unintentional calls which is why they have been trying to switch to 112 in the UK.

Personal my thoughts are that 999, 911, 112 etc should all be reserved and diverted to a priority call centre which can not only screen for emergencies but also have translators on hand.

Also it is technically possible for a call handler to press a button and bring in a translator as a third party to a call, the translators could be anywhere in the world, so why do the not do it?

[Thian]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

Another display of European arrogance and anti American bias.

The 911 concept was first used in Canada for the Winnipeg police services. It replaced 999 and was selected based upon US studies that showed 911 was easiest to remember and to dial without error. Despite European assumptions, North America was where the concept of central dispatching and combined first responder practice was developed. Ever hear of something called Paramedics? That was pioneered in North America too. You know the strategy of stoop and scoop for trauma victims? North American concept. It's the rest of the world that is lagging behind.

Why go off on a tangent about metric? Metric and emergency dispatch have nothing in common. And fyi, high tech industry in the USA uses metric, especially where exports are key.

Because the USA always thinks the rest of the world should follow them.

Can you show me where they show metric on this hitec american website? I just picked a page as example.

https://www.servocity.com/html/1_50__aluminum_channel__585440.html#.V5b51riLTIU

Edited July 26, 2016 by Thian

[aquario33]

european arrogance??? isnt that tipically US like behaviour ???

[robblok]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

Another display of European arrogance and anti American bias.

The 911 concept was first used in Canada for the Winnipeg police services. It replaced 999 and was selected based upon US studies that showed 911 was easiest to remember and to dial without error. Despite European assumptions, North America was where the concept of central dispatching and combined first responder practice was developed. Ever hear of something called Paramedics? That was pioneered in North America too. You know the strategy of stoop and scoop for trauma victims? North American concept. It's the rest of the world that is lagging behind.

Why go off on a tangent about metric? Metric and emergency dispatch have nothing in common. And fyi, high tech industry in the USA uses metric, especially where exports are key.

Why i go on about the metic as it shows the US arrogance of not going for a better system. Always assuming that their system is better and the world should follow when metric is clearly the better system and they don't adapt it either.. so why follow the US when they don't even adapt stuff they use that is crap.

[wirat69]

For what it is worth, it is 111 in New Zealand.... I think it was established to be "in line" with US, but on a Kiwi keyboard... which is different...

[Classic Ray]

There were some problems in the UK which uses 999 as the emergency number when they decided to use 311 for non emergency calls and then 112 the Europe wide emergency number alongside 999, but these were sorted out.

Why doesn't Thailand introduce both 911 and 112 to cater for American and European/UK tourists and 110 the Chinese and Japanese police emergency number alongside their current emergency numbers? As long as people can get through it doesn't matter that more than one number is available.

[Mrjlh]

Rumor has it .... with lots of silly guess's ..... maybe it's not true here....but then again you can never be sure....and there's even a blonde joke about it...with using "911" some people can't find the "11" on the keypad.

So stay with "191".

Edited July 26, 2016 by Mrjlh

[ocean268]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

Exactly, there are only 250 million americans on the world, only 4 times more then Thai persons. There are much more Europeans though so let them go metric.

No Sir, there are 324,286,847 million people right now in the USA

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/us-population/

Edited July 26, 2016 by ocean268

[NongKhaiKid]

It doesn't matter which number is used as long as it is answered and any report acted upon timeously.

[gchurch259]

If we could bag some of this "Bovine Fertlizer" and pass it out to help the farmers of the World !

By the way there are estimated to be 322,762,0186 people in the USA, not 250,000,000.

More illegal and so called refugees arriving daily.

Finally there seems to be a obcession with Thailand to want to do it there were, only good bad or indifferent. A standard World Wide Emergency number would seem to logical since there is so much more travel now days.

[tifino]

why cannot all the numbers used, in the earth's worldwide respective populace areas, for that same purpose, be useable, anywhere!!!

btw it is also different again, here in OZ, being: 000

and 991 is used in a nearby country

International Distress has set Frequencies for Radio, being 481mhz, 121.5mhz etc, which are worldwide compatible,

and I am sure there are even more these days,

considering what new Freq bands have since been released for differing uses...

Distress is a Standard Problem, which requires a Standard Solution

Did you know, that in OZ, if you are outside the MobileNet areas, say faraway out in the desert;

you can ring 000 from your mobile (ie. cellphone), and it is picked up by satellite!!!

and I'm sure it doesn't necessarily have to be an Australian satellite

[ikke]

I would use 711, any Thai and tourist knows the number.....

[williamgeorgeallen]

For what it is worth, it is 111 in New Zealand.... I think it was established to be "in line" with US, but on a Kiwi keyboard... which is different...

if you dial 911 in new zealand it still goes through to the emergency line. perhaps both numbers 191 and 911 should be used in thailand for emergencies, then there would not be a problem.

[tifino]

I would use 711, any Thai and tourist knows the number.....

yes, but used erroneously:

you can expect to be take(n)away yourself

[SOTIRIOS]

...like it will make any difference for some of us.....

[hansnl]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

Another display of European arrogance and anti American bias.

The 911 concept was first used in Canada for the Winnipeg police services. It replaced 999 and was selected based upon US studies that showed 911 was easiest to remember and to dial without error. Despite European assumptions, North America was where the concept of central dispatching and combined first responder practice was developed. Ever hear of something called Paramedics? That was pioneered in North America too. You know the strategy of stoop and scoop for trauma victims? North American concept. It's the rest of the world that is lagging behind.

Why go off on a tangent about metric? Metric and emergency dispatch have nothing in common. And fyi, high tech industry in the USA uses metric, especially where exports are key.

Wow!

Somebody gets angry about a duscussion.

And then "European Arrogance"

Followed by a lamentation about the supremacy in everything of the US.

US arrogance, maybe?

Of course, everything in the US is bigger, better, longer, mightier, etc, etc.

Like the deficit, maybe?

[cyberfarang]

Considering that Thailand is now part of the Asean community, one Vision, One Identity, One Community is their motto and Thailand`s apparent pride is caring for it`s tourists, then why not have an optional English language answering service for the emergency 191 service? The tourist police are limited in their capacity as being an emergency service, the main being under the 191 number, therefore non Thai speakers will find themselves struggling to communicate if calling for a 191 response.

[gandalf12]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

It is, 112

[gandalf12]

The reason that most countries, UK excepted, have a combination of numbers goes back to the dial pad. Using more than one number and separating them over the dial made it less likely to accidentally dial the emergency number. Now with DTMF and VoIP that argument is no longer valid. Now if they used three of the same digits it would not be a problem

[soalbundy]

I would use 711, any Thai and tourist knows the number.....

yes, but used erroneously:

you can expect to be take(n)away yourself

if you called 711 maybe someone would answer the phone unlike 191

[denkiblue555]

Well it does raise the question as to why is the number not standardized worldwide. However threatening people with a long jail term for just discussing it is way over the top draconian suppression and intimidation. Long past due for the Thai people to rise up against this sort of stupidity. Otherwise Thailand must be prepared to enter the new dark ages under a never ending military rule.

Getting real close to exit time, me thinks.

Why take the Example of the US in Europe its different all together.. why always follow the US when they don't even follow the rest of the world and go metric.

Another display of European arrogance and anti American bias.

The 911 concept was first used in Canada for the Winnipeg police services. It replaced 999 and was selected based upon US studies that showed 911 was easiest to remember and to dial without error. Despite European assumptions, North America was where the concept of central dispatching and combined first responder practice was developed. Ever hear of something called Paramedics? That was pioneered in North America too. You know the strategy of stoop and scoop for trauma victims? North American concept. It's the rest of the world that is lagging behind.

Maybe you can start one of those special huddle chants - U-S-A......U-S-A......

I don't believe the US leads in medical assistance from what I can gather (unless you have your credit cards ready). I also don't see how 911 would be easier to remember than 999....but I guess it was American research?

You may not be aware, but few people in the 'rest' of the world wish it to be like the United States.