Little boy yelling for help

[Keytochebakia]

If tou had heard a little boy yelling "help me!" Twice when you were walking down the street, and then heard his mum yell back "what are you doing?", would you have called 999, even if you thought he might have been messing around and pranking you?

Did you stop and ask him what was wrong?

I probably wouldn't ring 999 (hard to say without being there) there's a good change I would have rung the non emergency number though. Then the police can decide if they want to investigate. Better a false alarm than a child in danger.

Any other changes to your story OP?

Let me guess, you are the mum and someone called the police?

Yes I would. I couldn't care less if some random adult thinks I'm nosey, dramatic or whatever.

If he was screaming out the window wouldn’t you have seen him? Or else how do you know he was screaming out the window as opposed to just in the room?

This is a weird post and I think there is lots of contextual detail missing

you haven’t clearly stated where you were in relation to the child.
why would he be “pranking” you - was he talking directly to you are just shouting /yelling / screaming in general. How could we tell if he was?

what was the tone?
what was the environment?
time of day?
other risk factors?

You need to assess the risk and make a decision

Well, it depends entirely on tone, doesn't it?

It wouldn't automatically ring alarm bells.

I think this is everyday standard conversation with small children and has to be understood in context.