Rescue 911 (1989)

Directed by

Allison Grodner

Genre

drama, documentary

Country

United States

Length

7 seasons, 185 episodes

Rated

TV-PG

Rating

7.9 of 10 from 23 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

The host William Shatner presents reenactments of real emergencies where people called 911 for help. The show recreates these incidents step by step to show how emergency services respond and how callers can stay calm and assist.

informationaltensedramaticreassuringeducationalearnestproceduralserious

What happens

Rescue 911 is an informational docudrama television series that premiered on CBS on April 18, 1989, and ended on August 27, 1996. The series was hosted by William Shatner and featured reenactments (and occasionally real footage) of emergencies that often involved calls to 911. Though never intended as a teaching tool, various viewers used the knowledge they obtained watching the show. Two specials, titled 100 Lives Saved and 200 Lives Saved, were dedicated to these viewers who had written to CBS with their stories on how the knowledge they obtained watching the show allowed them to save the lives of others. At least 350 lives have been saved as a result of what viewers learned from watching it. The show's popularity coincided with, if not led to, the widespread adoption of the 911 emergency system replacing standalone police and fire numbers that varied from municipality to municipality; the number is now universally understood in the United States and Canada to be the number dialed for emergency assistance. At its height, the show was adapted in 45 countries (with their own 911 equivalent showcased). (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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