Rescue 911 was an informational reality-based television series, hosted by William Shatner. Originally intended to be only a set of three TV specials, Rescue 911 was picked up by the Columbia Broadcasting System for the 1989 Fall season after two specials aired on April 18 and May 9, 1989. Rescue 911 began airing as a regular series on September 5, 1989 and ran for 7 seasons, with the last new episode airing on August 29, 1996. The last episode to air on CBS (a repeat) aired on September 5, 1996.

Though never intended as a teaching tool, various viewers used the knowledge they obtained watching Rescue 911. Two specials titled "100 Lives Saved" and "200 Lives Saved" were dedicated to these viewers who had written to CBS with their stories on how the knowledge they obtained watching Rescue 911 allowed them to save the life of someone else. CBS confirmed on a carbon monoxide poisoning segment that aired early in 1995 that at least three hundred lives had been saved, though the actual number is said to be much higher.

At its height, the show was adapted in 45 countries (with their own 911 equivalent showcased). Although reruns have previously been shown on cable stations such as The Family Channel and The Odyssey Network, as of August 1, 2005, Discovery Health Channel stopped airing reruns, meaning the show is currently no longer aired on any U.S. network. Re-runs used to air on U.K. channel LIVING but are now currently being shown on another channel Zone Reality.