I have an old Nokia cell phone that has been sitting in a closet, (power off) for over year. I took it out today and was going to throw it away, then I hit the power button and it powered up. I noticed it had about 80% battery life, even after sitting there for a year. That gave me an idea. You can still dial 911 on a cell phone, even if it doesn't have an account. I hooked it up to the charger and charged it fully. I then put it in the tool kit I have in my trunk. If I ever were to be stranded in my car for whatever reason (accident etc.) and my main cell phone ran out of battery or was damaged in an accident, I could grab the old cell in my tool kit and at least call 911 (assuming there was service in that area).

SOME carriers may carry those calls (911 from unactivated phones), but they are not required to do so.  Many do not.  YMMV.

I thought there was a law requiring phone companies to process 911 calls regardless of service.

I took three cell phones that were no longer active out to the range a couple weeks ago.  Blew two of them completly to bits.  One had a small entry wound in the keypad and a very graphic exit wound in the back.  It now sits above my desk at work w/ a .223 shell next to it.

There was a thread a year or so back involving a cell phone and our favorite binary explosive

Quoted: SOME carriers may carry those calls (911 from unactivated phones), but they are not required to do so.  Many do not.  YMMV.

At one time, women's shelters were taking in these phones and having them "activated" for 911 service.

Nice idea, but they should have issued Glocks.