NOT ONE IN A THOUSAND AMERICANS KNOWS THE NUMBER OF HIS POLICE, FIRE OR AMBULANCE SERVICE. THE ST. LOUIS DIRECTORY LISTS 161 EMERGENCY NUMBERS, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAS AT LEAST 45 EMERGENCY NUMBERS. THE DEATH RATE FROM FIRE IS FOUR TIMES AS HIGH IN THE UNITED STATES AS IN GREAT BRITAIN, A COUNTRY WITH BETTER METHOD FOR REPORTING FIRES. THE AUTHOR (A REPRESENTATIVE FROM INDIANA) STARTED A ONE-MAN CAMPAIGN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR A SINGLE, NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER IN THE U.S. AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, THE LARGEST SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES, ARGUED THAT SUCH A NUMBER ALREADY EXISTED IN '0' FOR OPERATOR. HOWEVER, EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT THE DELAYS IN REACHING THE OPERATOR ARE INTOLERABLE IF A HOLDUP IS IN PROGRESS OR SOMEONE IS BLEEDING TO DEATH. WEST GERMANY, DENMARK, BELGIUM, AND GREAT BRITAIN ALL HAVE A THREE-DIGIT EMERGENCY NUMBER. MANY GOVERNORS, POLICE CHIEFS, AND FIRE MARSHALLS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE RESPONDED TO THE IDEA ENTHUSIASTICALLY, AND THE NUMBER 911 WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO REMEMBER. SEVERAL AMERICAN CITIES (AMONG THE HALEYVILLE, ALA.; HUNTINGTON, IND.; AND NEW YORK CITY) HAVE ADOPTED THE 911 NUMBER, BUT 911 IS FAR FROM BECOMING NATIONWIDE. DUE TO THE COST INVOLVED IN ADJUSTING THE TELEPHONES, COMMUNITIES WILL NOT RECEIVE 911 UNLESS THEY TAKE ACTIVE INITIATIVE. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS NO BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION. (SAJ)