AMITYVILLE, NY — As Grace Varley’s brother choked on food and turned blue, their panicked grandmother ran out the door — carrying the passed-out toddler to the neighbor’s house.

MOBILE, AL — When a 9-1-1 operator says this: “Mobile County 9-1-1, what’s the location of your emergency?” What they expect to hear next is just that… an emergency. But far too often, it’s something like this actual call:

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD — The 911 operator who helped save a toddler’s life, after a near drowning in Laurel last week, was still a trainee.

LANSING, MI — How prepared are your children for an emergency? Could they get help if you were unresponsive?

OTTAWA, ON, CANADA — Ottawa police are investigating how an elderly victim of a vicious attack in his home ended up spending 75 days in jail after calling 911 for help.

SPOKANE, WA — The average person will call 911 for an emergency once in their life. According to 911 operators, you may be calling more than that without even knowing it. In New York City in 2010, nearly 40 percent of 911 calls were so-called pocket dials (where your phone calls a number without you knowing it.) In Spokane, it’s less but it’s still a...

LAKE, VA — Franklin County 911 dispatcher Raine Bowles was recently given the rare opportunity to find out what happens after the call ends. Bowles helped Smith Mountain Lake resident Michele Ellis find answers in a tough situation this past April, and last week, Ellis was able to thank Bowles in person.