Some 100 years ago, (before cellphones) our state police, at least on major highways, monitored CB. Not anymore. You just see signs giving you the cell phone number to call.

So even with a CB, you can't assume you will reach any EMS/police/fire unit or dispatch center. At best, someone might relay a call for you, but who knows.

In Martin's case, a defined net of emergency responders, all with CBs and with freqs and call signs set up ahead of time, makes good sense, is cheap and easily implemented. Really, IMO almost no reason not to except for the "giggle factor."

For us, if all else fails, I live .6 miles from the local fire-ems station: drive/bicycle/run (well, walk quickly at my age) and bang on the door and hope they are home. . . .

As a side question, would the FRS (family radio service) system be a better alternative to CB, even if only to get past the "giggle factor?"