-- Posted by Emilybird at 5:53 pm on July 6, 2009 why they made 911 the national emergency number? did someone just say "hey that sounds catchy!"   was there ever a reason for that combination? -- Posted by Dustin at 5:54 pm on July 6, 2009 I believe it was made so that it would not be easy for someone to accidentally push it. -- Posted by Catzcore at 5:55 pm on July 6, 2009 i dunno, i assumed when i was little it's because us brits stole 999 -- Posted by ZenaGirl at 5:59 pm on July 6, 2009 9 was chose as the first digit because no phone number begins with a "9"- or at least didn't at the time because it would confuse office PBX phone systems where "9" is use to access an outside line.  The other two digits were "1" because with the rotary phones in use then- they were the quickest to dial.