Looks like some people obviously don't have kids. Basically, if the pager goes off, some parents may feel that they shouldn't bother the neighbours etc. But if the pager goes off again, then it certainly makes that decision to dump the kids off with the elderly neighbour a lot easier.
Since we don't get paid to sit around on our duffs waiting for calls, I don't think it is unreasonable to sometimes miss that first page through circumstance.
For example: anyone been caught on the bog when the pager goes off? What are you gonna do, shove some TP up ya crack and run for the door?