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Trapped girls updated Facebook page instead of calling for help

This could be great cause for concern - two girls, 10 and 12 years old, were trapped in a storm drain in Adelaide, Australia.  Instead of calling 000 (the Australian equivalent of 911), they updated their facebook page.  This situation worries authorities because people are so used to communicating via social media, they don't even think of using conventional emergency channels, which would be much faster in situations where seconds count. 

Fortunately, a friend saw the update on Facebook and called for help. Since they could send a message to Facebook, the girls should have been able to use their telephone to call the emergency number. 

Are we using computers and handheld devices so much now that we don't even think about conventional means when we have an emergency?  This could be a real problem that could cause deaths because of unnecessary delays. 

Other articles about this story:

ABC News

Mashable

Adelaide Now

Follow me on Twitter @mr_nolte but don't use Twitter for emergencies! 

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Using Computers Examiner

Harold Nolte has worked for Sperry Univac, Unisys, Compaq, HP, Iomega and Novell. He loves to teach people about computers and how to use them.

Comments

  • Linda Ann Nickerson - Equestrian Examiner 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Crazy! Glad they were actually rescued. How many might have simply surmised they were pranking?

  • Ann ODyne 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    The girls must have remembered that 14 y-o David Ireland recently died on a NSW mountain track when Australian 911 Operators were useless to him because their process requires an exact street number before they can proceed to the next step. Google 'David Ireland'.

  • Some Guy 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Damn, Darwin foiled again

  • Chris 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    America has a dark future ahead of it. . .

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