999 emergency number
Subject in History
999 emergency number has come up in 1 episode across 1 podcast in TMT, including Stuff You Should Know. 2 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Josh ClarkCo-host of Stuff You Should Know
Clark says the pizza-order code is a myth, but in the UK a silent 999 caller can press 55 to confirm an emergency.
“if you press 55, you will be confirming that, yes, there is an emergency and you just can't talk right now, and they will send people out”
Stuff You Should Know: Selects: 911 Is Not a Joke (Jun 6, 2026) · Listen from 58:07
Chuck BryantCo-host of Stuff You Should Know
Bryant says London was the first city to create a three-digit emergency number, 999, in 1937 after a fire where callers were put on hold.
“they were the first city in the world that created the three-digit model”
Stuff You Should Know: Selects: 911 Is Not a Joke (Jun 6, 2026) · Listen from 22:48
Podcasts
- Stuff You Should Know · 1 episode
Episodes
Selects: 911 Is Not a JokeStuff You Should Know · Jun 6, 2026 · 54 min
Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explain the history, technology, and problems of the U.S. 911 emergency system, from Haleyville, Alabama to Next Generation 911.