Brazil Emergency 190,191, 192, or 193???!!!

Every year I think to myself, "I really need to post the emergency numbers here on my fridge," because there are so many of them and I never remember which one is which. This morning I decided that it doesn't matter because the emergency system does not work. At least I am convinced the police dept. is just a façade. I remember that 193 is the fire dept. and they have ambulances, so I'm convinced that is all I need.

Why am I after 6 years saying this? Well, now 2 circumstances have left me with an open jaw. A few years ago, we saw an insane motorcycle accident where the guy literally flew like 20 feet high in the air. We were right there so Claudio called the police. They told Claudio to call the fire department. Now being an American I thought, "how absurd" that the emergency dispatch is NOT interconnected. At least the response in that situation was fairly speedy.

This morning around 5am I awoke to hear some noises...it sounded like someone was breaking in...I layed in silence waiting for a sure sound before I freaked and woke up Claudio...so maybe 15 minutes after, there was lots of banging, like the sound of our front door or car doors. Time to freak! I woke up Claudio, he checked everything out. As he was downstairs I heard what sounded like a girl moaning...nothing in our house, thank goodness, but WHAT was going on?

After Claudio came up we continued to hear the girl and occasional banging...my thought? call the POLICE! I couldn't help but imagine this girl suffering, but being here in Brazil, sticking your nose in other people's business can lead to BIG trouble, so it would not be safe for Claudio to go there. Yes, call the police.

10 or 15 minutes after Claudio hung up the phone, the police CALLED BACK to ask if there was still a commotion! Well, no, not so much now...what if that girl passed out or died? That would end the commotion. So, what did the police do? NOTHING. They said they were not sending anyone.

WHAT?! How absurd that they do not respond to a call! Even if it was nothing, what really are the chances that a girl screaming at 5am is nothing? I couldn't believe it, even though after 6 years I really should not be surprised.

Brazil emergency system, you should be ashamed! It is just another reason that corruption in this country rules.