As I understand it you can call 911 from any phone without any cards or change. If you are truly in a life threatening situation who are you planning to call besides the biggest emergency response team's phone number?

Second Question, if you are in the .1 percent of the country where they have working phones but no emergency services then can't you just dial 0 and get the operator?

Ever hear of 1 800 COLLECT?

In most cases, if I can't find a phone <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> then I am truly alone and have to resort to rudimentry signaling and HAM Radio.