text: what is the history of 911 (phone number to call in case of emergency) out of all the number combs, why 911?   when was 911 "invented?" the simple answer is: over 35 years ago. however, the development of the three-digit number in the united states is slightly more complex than a single date. here is a summary of how it was implemented for the first time in the united states, and events leading up to that historic event.  by the way, this collection of material was prompted by reba fitzgerald, who contacted me after the death of her husband in june 2001: it was robert fitzgerald and his colleagues who implemented the first 911 system in haleyville (ala.) in 1968. ms. fitzgerald spent the last year of her life working to set the record straight, and then no doubt satisfied she had accomplished some measure of success, died in august 2002.  there is no debate on where the first 911 call was placed. however, there is considerable unverifiable information about who was involved and how 911 was developed. we have investigated the genesis of the first 911 system, and present here the first accurate, documented history of 911, including key dates, whether we've confirmed the event with documentation from the time (not from later recollections), and the details of the event. e-mail us if you have confirming documentation for events without a check mark, or if you have corrections/updates--check below for the missing information we need verified. we hope this account will finally give credit to those whose imagination and spirit helped create the invaluable resource of 911.     friday, march 10, 1876  ok, this may be pushing history a bit too far, but.....alexander graham bell made the first telephone call for help during testing of his gear. bell reportedly dropped some battery acid on his clothes and said those famous words, "mr. watson, come here. i want you!" his assistant, thomas a. watson, heard the words over the set-up they were testing and came to his aid.   thursday, july 8, 1937    britain implements its 999 emergency telephone system serving police, fire and ems after phone calls were delayed reporting 5-fatality fire on wimpole street. the first 999 call was placed at 4:20 a.m. when the wife of john stanley beard (33 elsworthy rd., hampstead, london) dialed 999 to report a burglar outside her home. the burglary, 24 yeard-old thomas duffys, was apprehended.   1957     the national association of fire chiefs reportedly suggests a single number for reporting fires.   sept. 1958     new zealand debuts their 111 emergency number.  june 21, 1959   according to the winnipeg (man.) police department web site, north america's first 999 system was introduced in that city, and the operation's first supervisor was helen aizita woollard. there were initially eight emergency telephone operators, of which lucienne galinas was one of the original hires. canada converted its three-digit emergency number to 911 in 1972. check this cbc video about the center.   1961     australia introduces its 000 emergency number in metropolitan areas of the country.   february., 1967    president lyndon johnson's commission on law enforcement and administration of justice issues its report, recommending that police departments have a single number to call, and that eventually that single number should be used nationwide. (see alan burton's account.). the report stated, "the commission recommends: wherever practical, a single police telephone number should be established, at least within a metropolitan area and eventually over the entire united states, comparable to the telephone company's long-distance information number." the recommendation was based on input from the commission's task force on science and technology [see june 3, 1967 entry]   may 23, 1967     indiana rep. ed roush attends house sub-committee hearings on the comprehensive fire research and safety act of 1967. when firefigher leonard kershner, representing the international association of firefighters, i