It was on the news tonight, but I couldn't find a link.
A 6 year old boy called Detroit's 911 when his mom passed out on the kitchen floor. What a smart, brave little boy!
The 911 operator scolded him and demanded to talk to an adult before she sent the police over to his house to knock on the door and he would be in trouble!
They played the recordings on the news and this woman didn't listen to this little boy at all and convinced him that he was going to be in trouble so he hung up! He tried calling back, but got the same operator and more of the same treatment.
Emergency crews showed up at his house THREE HOURS later! There was this poor 6 year old boy with his mother lying dead on the kitchen floor!
Here it is, a month later and the "incident" is still being investigated. The operator still has a job and at this point, no disciplinary action has been taken or is being considered.
OK, so kids make prank calls to 911, but isn't it better to err on the side of caution then ignore an emergency call? And what SIX year old thinks it would be funny to call 911?
Six Year Old calls 911
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LilacDragon
- Posts: 1382
- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:23 am
Six Year Old calls 911
Sandi
Six Year Old calls 911
I suppose I could see how the person wouldnt beleive that a 6 year old would have the knowlledge to call 911 in an emergancy situation. I guess if it were me I would try and listen to the senserity in the kids voice, but even then, what really pisses me off, is the fact that these people ignore any call at all. They act like they cannot afford to send someone right away to atleast investigate the situation. Programs in school are devoted to teach these childeren the proper procedure in emergancy situations, yet they do not beleive them when they actually exercise what they have learned in the real world. Yes, kids do accidently call 911, very often, therefore I can see both sides of the story. But to neglect a second 911 call is just plain ubserd and ignorant. The coincidence of a child calling 911 two times in a row has to give anyone suspicion in to thinking that the situation is real.
Very sad story.........
Very sad story.........
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chrisb84uk
- Posts: 11634
- Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:29 am
Six Year Old calls 911
That's an awful story. What a poor kid, he is smart and brave enough to be able to ring for help, and all he gets is some smart-ass on the other end who thinks that this is a crank call. And this person still has there job you say!! Sheesh there really is no justice in the world at times. 
Six Year Old calls 911
"These people" ........ "this woman"........."smart-ass"........
I take into consideration that you are responding to a tragic story involving a (as in individual) negligent employee. I agree wholeheartedly... with regard to that employee. I take acception, however, to comments generalizing "these people" as less than compassionate, less than proffessional, and less than human. I am currently involved in emergency dispatch. Have been since 1987. I could tell you many, many stories, from my own experiences that were much different from the one above.
I have executed the frenzied response to "you people" when you overdose, cut your wrists, beat your spouse, drunkenly run over your fellow man in your cars, shoot, maim, rape, molest, kidnap... and done it calmly (to you), while my heart pounds, my mind races as to how to best help some one in need.
I have disobeyed agency policy, knocked heads with department heads because there was no more overtime hours, and attended meetings, training and continueing education... on my own time... often at my expense.
Thing is... in a couple of days... "you people" will forget the story above. I live it every day.
I take into consideration that you are responding to a tragic story involving a (as in individual) negligent employee. I agree wholeheartedly... with regard to that employee. I take acception, however, to comments generalizing "these people" as less than compassionate, less than proffessional, and less than human. I am currently involved in emergency dispatch. Have been since 1987. I could tell you many, many stories, from my own experiences that were much different from the one above.
I have executed the frenzied response to "you people" when you overdose, cut your wrists, beat your spouse, drunkenly run over your fellow man in your cars, shoot, maim, rape, molest, kidnap... and done it calmly (to you), while my heart pounds, my mind races as to how to best help some one in need.
I have disobeyed agency policy, knocked heads with department heads because there was no more overtime hours, and attended meetings, training and continueing education... on my own time... often at my expense.
Thing is... in a couple of days... "you people" will forget the story above. I live it every day.
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chrisb84uk
- Posts: 11634
- Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:29 am
Six Year Old calls 911
I agree with what you have to say there 4rum, I think that it is wrong to categorise one person who made a bad error, and sterotype that onto the whole profession, that is just wrong.
The only thing that I would ask, (and I'm sure that you have done this before,) is that you refer to whose quotes you were taking your point with. When I saw what you had said, I was looking at my own post, assuming that you were critisising me, where I actually assume that you were referring to K.Snyder above me.
The only thing that I would ask, (and I'm sure that you have done this before,) is that you refer to whose quotes you were taking your point with. When I saw what you had said, I was looking at my own post, assuming that you were critisising me, where I actually assume that you were referring to K.Snyder above me.
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DesignerGal
- Posts: 2554
- Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:20 am
Six Year Old calls 911
4rum wrote: Thing is... in a couple of days... "you people" will forget the story above. I live it every day.I'll add my two cents worth to balance things - I called out the Fire Brigade when I was six, from a payphone, and they arrived within five minutes.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left. ... Hold no regard for unsupported opinion.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious. [Fred Wedlock, "The Folker"]
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious. [Fred Wedlock, "The Folker"]
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
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LilacDragon
- Posts: 1382
- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:23 am
Six Year Old calls 911
4rum wrote: "These people" ........ "this woman"........."smart-ass"........
I take into consideration that you are responding to a tragic story involving a (as in individual) negligent employee. I agree wholeheartedly... with regard to that employee. I take acception, however, to comments generalizing "these people" as less than compassionate, less than proffessional, and less than human. I am currently involved in emergency dispatch. Have been since 1987. I could tell you many, many stories, from my own experiences that were much different from the one above.
I have executed the frenzied response to "you people" when you overdose, cut your wrists, beat your spouse, drunkenly run over your fellow man in your cars, shoot, maim, rape, molest, kidnap... and done it calmly (to you), while my heart pounds, my mind races as to how to best help some one in need.
I have disobeyed agency policy, knocked heads with department heads because there was no more overtime hours, and attended meetings, training and continueing education... on my own time... often at my expense.
Thing is... in a couple of days... "you people" will forget the story above. I live it every day.
Please, don't misunderstand. I have the highest respect for all professionals that Protect and Serve. But this is 2006. Parents and Preschools are teaching our children the importance of 911 and emergency services. I know that my son learned about it in Preschool and again in Kindergarten. Why would someone assume that just because the child was young, it was a prank?
So - Since this is the type of work tha you do - what do you think should happen to this particular operator? When a young person calls you, how do you handle it? Do you ever assume that a call is a prank?
Personally, I don't think I could be a 911 operator. The stress of having other peoples lives depending on me is just more stress then I think I could handle. Or even want to attempt!
I take into consideration that you are responding to a tragic story involving a (as in individual) negligent employee. I agree wholeheartedly... with regard to that employee. I take acception, however, to comments generalizing "these people" as less than compassionate, less than proffessional, and less than human. I am currently involved in emergency dispatch. Have been since 1987. I could tell you many, many stories, from my own experiences that were much different from the one above.
I have executed the frenzied response to "you people" when you overdose, cut your wrists, beat your spouse, drunkenly run over your fellow man in your cars, shoot, maim, rape, molest, kidnap... and done it calmly (to you), while my heart pounds, my mind races as to how to best help some one in need.
I have disobeyed agency policy, knocked heads with department heads because there was no more overtime hours, and attended meetings, training and continueing education... on my own time... often at my expense.
Thing is... in a couple of days... "you people" will forget the story above. I live it every day.
Please, don't misunderstand. I have the highest respect for all professionals that Protect and Serve. But this is 2006. Parents and Preschools are teaching our children the importance of 911 and emergency services. I know that my son learned about it in Preschool and again in Kindergarten. Why would someone assume that just because the child was young, it was a prank?
So - Since this is the type of work tha you do - what do you think should happen to this particular operator? When a young person calls you, how do you handle it? Do you ever assume that a call is a prank?
Personally, I don't think I could be a 911 operator. The stress of having other peoples lives depending on me is just more stress then I think I could handle. Or even want to attempt!
Sandi
Six Year Old calls 911
I'm really hoping someone finds this story. Why did emergency crews show up 3 hours later? Did they get a call from an adult or the dispatcher had second thoughts? Either way, she should be fired. I wonder if the woman would have lived if help was sent when her son called.
Six Year Old calls 911
9-1-1 is not uniform or foolproof. For example, in this area, the beloved cell phone does NOT give name, address, or drive directions. As a last resort, once a child starts to become suspicious, I have used the scare tactic to get mommy on the phone.
Many, many phones are set up with 9-1-1 as a one button call. Many, Many mommies let children "play" with the phone. I would need to know the call process and how it was handled before I would pass judgement. On the information given... the above example sounds horrible... totally unacceptable.... prosecutable.... but I have had repeated calls from 4, 5 and 6 year olds who have the possession of an unattended phone. Mommy is usually passed out in some kind of stupor.
These calls "MUST" be processed, in my office, and yes, I have personally handled repeated calls from children of this age group reporting ALL kinds of emergencies.
To more specifically answer Diuretic: In my office, the call taker takes responsibility for contacting and responding the correct emergency response agency. 9-1-1 is dialed direct, the request comes to me... I do NOT screen calls, I assimilate information and allocate resources. I do not judge the validity of ANY call. ALL requests are handled in this manner. Guidelines and policy will vary from agency to agency and state to state.
I do not for one moment deny that there are inept calltakers. Just as there are bad cops, bad congressmen or bad actors. But I will stand behind the millions of calls EACH day that are handled compassionately, professionally and courteously by dedicated, hard working, under paid and ..... never thanked people.
Many, many phones are set up with 9-1-1 as a one button call. Many, Many mommies let children "play" with the phone. I would need to know the call process and how it was handled before I would pass judgement. On the information given... the above example sounds horrible... totally unacceptable.... prosecutable.... but I have had repeated calls from 4, 5 and 6 year olds who have the possession of an unattended phone. Mommy is usually passed out in some kind of stupor.
These calls "MUST" be processed, in my office, and yes, I have personally handled repeated calls from children of this age group reporting ALL kinds of emergencies.
To more specifically answer Diuretic: In my office, the call taker takes responsibility for contacting and responding the correct emergency response agency. 9-1-1 is dialed direct, the request comes to me... I do NOT screen calls, I assimilate information and allocate resources. I do not judge the validity of ANY call. ALL requests are handled in this manner. Guidelines and policy will vary from agency to agency and state to state.
I do not for one moment deny that there are inept calltakers. Just as there are bad cops, bad congressmen or bad actors. But I will stand behind the millions of calls EACH day that are handled compassionately, professionally and courteously by dedicated, hard working, under paid and ..... never thanked people.
Six Year Old calls 911
here's the story-------------
Sherel Turner
911 Call Ignored
Mom Dies After Boy's 911 Call Considered Prank
Detroit Police Investigate
UPDATED: 11:05 am EDT April 7, 2006
DETROIT -- A 6-year-old boy's 911 call for help was thought to be a prank, but the call was real and the boy's mother died, according to WDIV-TV in Detroit.
Robert Turner called 911 to get help for his mother, Sherel Turner, 46, whom he found lying unconscious on the kitchen floor of their Detroit apartment in February, the station reported.
"Then I had felt her tummy. She wasn't breathing. Then I had called 911," said Robert. "I told them to send an emergency truck right now."
911 Operator: "911. What's the problem?"
Robert: "My mom has passed out."
The 911 operator, however, did not take him seriously and told him to stop playing on the phone, the station reported.
911 Operator: "Where's the grownups at?"
Robert: (Inaudible)
911 Operator: "Let me speak to her before I send the police over there."
"I tried to tell them she wouldn't talk," said Robert.
Robert: (Inaudible)
911 Operator: "I don't care. You shouldn't be playing on the phone. Now put her on the phone before I send the police out there to knock on the door and you gonna be in trouble."
Robert: "Ugh!" (Hangs up.)
Kimberly Harris, the union president of AFSCME Local 1023, said more than a quarter of phone calls received by 911 operators are prank calls. She also said that everybody does not express their pain or emergencies the same way.
"That operator could have had five prank calls. Kids calling in prior to that call. And please, don't think that I am trying to make an excuse. That was a tragedy," said Harris.
Officials said the 911 operator will be disciplined, but because of her years of service she will not be fired.
"I know that operator. I know that she is a very good operator," said Harris. "She is very thorough."
Robert said every time someone talks about his mother, he starts crying.
Police continue to investigate. ......
Sherel Turner
911 Call Ignored
Mom Dies After Boy's 911 Call Considered Prank
Detroit Police Investigate
UPDATED: 11:05 am EDT April 7, 2006
DETROIT -- A 6-year-old boy's 911 call for help was thought to be a prank, but the call was real and the boy's mother died, according to WDIV-TV in Detroit.
Robert Turner called 911 to get help for his mother, Sherel Turner, 46, whom he found lying unconscious on the kitchen floor of their Detroit apartment in February, the station reported.
"Then I had felt her tummy. She wasn't breathing. Then I had called 911," said Robert. "I told them to send an emergency truck right now."
911 Operator: "911. What's the problem?"
Robert: "My mom has passed out."
The 911 operator, however, did not take him seriously and told him to stop playing on the phone, the station reported.
911 Operator: "Where's the grownups at?"
Robert: (Inaudible)
911 Operator: "Let me speak to her before I send the police over there."
"I tried to tell them she wouldn't talk," said Robert.
Robert: (Inaudible)
911 Operator: "I don't care. You shouldn't be playing on the phone. Now put her on the phone before I send the police out there to knock on the door and you gonna be in trouble."
Robert: "Ugh!" (Hangs up.)
Kimberly Harris, the union president of AFSCME Local 1023, said more than a quarter of phone calls received by 911 operators are prank calls. She also said that everybody does not express their pain or emergencies the same way.
"That operator could have had five prank calls. Kids calling in prior to that call. And please, don't think that I am trying to make an excuse. That was a tragedy," said Harris.
Officials said the 911 operator will be disciplined, but because of her years of service she will not be fired.
"I know that operator. I know that she is a very good operator," said Harris. "She is very thorough."
Robert said every time someone talks about his mother, he starts crying.
Police continue to investigate. ......
Six Year Old calls 911
I have not read any replies to this post yet. So please forgive me if I have repeated another post.
I am infuriated by this thread. Not because it was posted, but by what it tells me about the human race.
It is clear that this young boy of 6 years of age has been coached well. This even indicates a strong bond of love between this boy and his mother. The greater the love, the more readily the young children learn. And this young 6 year old boy did exactly as he had been coached by his mother. Probably he had absolute faith in what his Mother taught him. Nonetheless, he did the right thing. I bet he had tears in his eyes even as he dialled the numbers.
He came up a brick wall. So he hung up and tried again.
Oh my God. What recompense will he receive for his efforts? Will George William Bush visit this boy and hug him for all he's worth? (No, I won't go there!)
No, this woman was just doing her job. She probably has been suitably punished just learning, through the media, her role in all this. She's not to blame.
The same problem existed when I was a boy. The word of a child was not to be taken seriously. Never mind the fact that a 10 year old boy has been referred to court in England for using racial terms. Of course, if the words used by a young child can be taken as being racial, then that child should be prosecuted.
.......................
Sorry if I stop here. I feel physically sick and my eyes are weeping.
I am infuriated by this thread. Not because it was posted, but by what it tells me about the human race.
It is clear that this young boy of 6 years of age has been coached well. This even indicates a strong bond of love between this boy and his mother. The greater the love, the more readily the young children learn. And this young 6 year old boy did exactly as he had been coached by his mother. Probably he had absolute faith in what his Mother taught him. Nonetheless, he did the right thing. I bet he had tears in his eyes even as he dialled the numbers.
He came up a brick wall. So he hung up and tried again.
Oh my God. What recompense will he receive for his efforts? Will George William Bush visit this boy and hug him for all he's worth? (No, I won't go there!)
No, this woman was just doing her job. She probably has been suitably punished just learning, through the media, her role in all this. She's not to blame.
The same problem existed when I was a boy. The word of a child was not to be taken seriously. Never mind the fact that a 10 year old boy has been referred to court in England for using racial terms. Of course, if the words used by a young child can be taken as being racial, then that child should be prosecuted.
.......................
Sorry if I stop here. I feel physically sick and my eyes are weeping.
Six Year Old calls 911
4rum wrote: 9-1-1 is not uniform or foolproof. For example, in this area, the beloved cell phone does NOT give name, address, or drive directions. As a last resort, once a child starts to become suspicious, I have used the scare tactic to get mommy on the phone.
Many, many phones are set up with 9-1-1 as a one button call. Many, Many mommies let children "play" with the phone. I would need to know the call process and how it was handled before I would pass judgement. On the information given... the above example sounds horrible... totally unacceptable.... prosecutable.... but I have had repeated calls from 4, 5 and 6 year olds who have the possession of an unattended phone. Mommy is usually passed out in some kind of stupor.
These calls "MUST" be processed, in my office, and yes, I have personally handled repeated calls from children of this age group reporting ALL kinds of emergencies.
To more specifically answer Diuretic: In my office, the call taker takes responsibility for contacting and responding the correct emergency response agency. 9-1-1 is dialed direct, the request comes to me... I do NOT screen calls, I assimilate information and allocate resources. I do not judge the validity of ANY call. ALL requests are handled in this manner. Guidelines and policy will vary from agency to agency and state to state.
I do not for one moment deny that there are inept calltakers. Just as there are bad cops, bad congressmen or bad actors. But I will stand behind the millions of calls EACH day that are handled compassionately, professionally and courteously by dedicated, hard working, under paid and ..... never thanked people.
Better to be safe than sorry. Have you had cause to personally thank an emergency crew?
Would you react in the same way if it was of your own children?
Many, many phones are set up with 9-1-1 as a one button call. Many, Many mommies let children "play" with the phone. I would need to know the call process and how it was handled before I would pass judgement. On the information given... the above example sounds horrible... totally unacceptable.... prosecutable.... but I have had repeated calls from 4, 5 and 6 year olds who have the possession of an unattended phone. Mommy is usually passed out in some kind of stupor.
These calls "MUST" be processed, in my office, and yes, I have personally handled repeated calls from children of this age group reporting ALL kinds of emergencies.
To more specifically answer Diuretic: In my office, the call taker takes responsibility for contacting and responding the correct emergency response agency. 9-1-1 is dialed direct, the request comes to me... I do NOT screen calls, I assimilate information and allocate resources. I do not judge the validity of ANY call. ALL requests are handled in this manner. Guidelines and policy will vary from agency to agency and state to state.
I do not for one moment deny that there are inept calltakers. Just as there are bad cops, bad congressmen or bad actors. But I will stand behind the millions of calls EACH day that are handled compassionately, professionally and courteously by dedicated, hard working, under paid and ..... never thanked people.
Better to be safe than sorry. Have you had cause to personally thank an emergency crew?
Would you react in the same way if it was of your own children?
Six Year Old calls 911
Multimillion-Dollar Suit Filed After Boy's 911 Call Ignored
Mother Died After Boy Called For Help
POSTED: 9:41 am EDT April 10, 2006
UPDATED: 1:09 pm EDT April 10, 2006
DETROIT -- A prominent lawyer filed a multimillion-dollar, wrongful-death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a Detroit boy who called 911 to get help for his mother, but was denied because the operator thought the call was a prank.
The woman's young son was unable to convince a 911 operator his mother needed help.
Geoffrey Fieger said 46-year-old Sherrill Turner, who had an enlarged heart, would have survived if help had been sent immediately.
http://www.wtov9.com/news/8592836/detai ... 0304102006
for the rest of the story.
I hope this 911 operator can live with herself. Some kind of charges should come out of this for her. :-5
Mother Died After Boy Called For Help
POSTED: 9:41 am EDT April 10, 2006
UPDATED: 1:09 pm EDT April 10, 2006
DETROIT -- A prominent lawyer filed a multimillion-dollar, wrongful-death lawsuit on behalf of the family of a Detroit boy who called 911 to get help for his mother, but was denied because the operator thought the call was a prank.
The woman's young son was unable to convince a 911 operator his mother needed help.
Geoffrey Fieger said 46-year-old Sherrill Turner, who had an enlarged heart, would have survived if help had been sent immediately.
http://www.wtov9.com/news/8592836/detai ... 0304102006
for the rest of the story.
I hope this 911 operator can live with herself. Some kind of charges should come out of this for her. :-5
Six Year Old calls 911
4rum wrote: "These people" ........ "this woman"........."smart-ass"........
I take into consideration that you are responding to a tragic story involving a (as in individual) negligent employee. I agree wholeheartedly... with regard to that employee. I take acception, however, to comments generalizing "these people" as less than compassionate, less than proffessional, and less than human. I am currently involved in emergency dispatch. Have been since 1987. I could tell you many, many stories, from my own experiences that were much different from the one above.
I have executed the frenzied response to "you people" when you overdose, cut your wrists, beat your spouse, drunkenly run over your fellow man in your cars, shoot, maim, rape, molest, kidnap... and done it calmly (to you), while my heart pounds, my mind races as to how to best help some one in need.
I have disobeyed agency policy, knocked heads with department heads because there was no more overtime hours, and attended meetings, training and continueing education... on my own time... often at my expense.
Thing is... in a couple of days... "you people" will forget the story above. I live it every day.
First of all, when I refer to "these people" it is to all the people that have done this....meaning the people that didnt respond to a childs call whether the outcome would have been different or not. And if I understand correctly from your post you are saying that this is the first and only time something like this has happened...I beg to differ....I completly respect what you do, I couldnt admire you more for what you do everyday. I wouldnt once automatically judge a persons morale values from them simply making a mistake, but my point is, is that this person(and those who have also done this) should never question and hesitate on any call whatsoever. That is their job, to respond to emergancies, not to judge.
Oh BTW -- I resent your hostility, by your "smart ass" remark........you shouldnt be quick to judge when you have missinterprated anyones response.
I take into consideration that you are responding to a tragic story involving a (as in individual) negligent employee. I agree wholeheartedly... with regard to that employee. I take acception, however, to comments generalizing "these people" as less than compassionate, less than proffessional, and less than human. I am currently involved in emergency dispatch. Have been since 1987. I could tell you many, many stories, from my own experiences that were much different from the one above.
I have executed the frenzied response to "you people" when you overdose, cut your wrists, beat your spouse, drunkenly run over your fellow man in your cars, shoot, maim, rape, molest, kidnap... and done it calmly (to you), while my heart pounds, my mind races as to how to best help some one in need.
I have disobeyed agency policy, knocked heads with department heads because there was no more overtime hours, and attended meetings, training and continueing education... on my own time... often at my expense.
Thing is... in a couple of days... "you people" will forget the story above. I live it every day.
First of all, when I refer to "these people" it is to all the people that have done this....meaning the people that didnt respond to a childs call whether the outcome would have been different or not. And if I understand correctly from your post you are saying that this is the first and only time something like this has happened...I beg to differ....I completly respect what you do, I couldnt admire you more for what you do everyday. I wouldnt once automatically judge a persons morale values from them simply making a mistake, but my point is, is that this person(and those who have also done this) should never question and hesitate on any call whatsoever. That is their job, to respond to emergancies, not to judge.
Oh BTW -- I resent your hostility, by your "smart ass" remark........you shouldnt be quick to judge when you have missinterprated anyones response.
Six Year Old calls 911
Diuretic wrote: Question for 4rum. When someone calls 911 in the US are they immediately put through to the emergency service they require? Or is there some sort of screening by the operator taking the initial 911 call?
In Australia the emergency number is 000 (zero-zero-zero). Just as an aside you would be surprised at the number of people here who, under the influence of tv and film from North America try to dial 911. Anyway moving on - if someone dials 000 here they are put through to the telephone company emergency operator who asks which service they require - "Fire, Ambulance, Police?" The person making the call asks for the service and they are put through to the emergency call centre for that service. Where I am the emergency call taker is a firefighter, an ambulance officer or a police officer. They interpret the call from the person making the call, get the information required and send the call to the dispatcher. Computer-Aided Dispatch is the rule and it seems to work quite well.
I don't mean to take the thead off topic, just asking a question and explaining my own experience of this.
Wow,
And Australia,I beleive, has the most deadliest creatures crawling about over there. Imagine the impatience of somone being bitten by one of them, and having to have a conversation with an operater asking them which emergancy unit they would prefer, as if they gave a damn.
In Australia the emergency number is 000 (zero-zero-zero). Just as an aside you would be surprised at the number of people here who, under the influence of tv and film from North America try to dial 911. Anyway moving on - if someone dials 000 here they are put through to the telephone company emergency operator who asks which service they require - "Fire, Ambulance, Police?" The person making the call asks for the service and they are put through to the emergency call centre for that service. Where I am the emergency call taker is a firefighter, an ambulance officer or a police officer. They interpret the call from the person making the call, get the information required and send the call to the dispatcher. Computer-Aided Dispatch is the rule and it seems to work quite well.
I don't mean to take the thead off topic, just asking a question and explaining my own experience of this.
Wow,
And Australia,I beleive, has the most deadliest creatures crawling about over there. Imagine the impatience of somone being bitten by one of them, and having to have a conversation with an operater asking them which emergancy unit they would prefer, as if they gave a damn.
-
LilacDragon
- Posts: 1382
- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:23 am
Six Year Old calls 911
There is now another woman that called 911 after her husband shot her in the head. The operator asked her if she was a mental patient. Fortunetely, this woman was able to get ahold of a relative before she passed out. She is a parapalegic now, due to her injuries.
I have no doubt that there are some very good 911 operators and some not so good operators. The problem is, when you call 911 for a life threatening situation, you expect to be taken seriously and get help. I am sure that if the police started arresting people and pressing charges against those (or the parents of those) that are either making prank calls or just playing with the phone, word would get out and people would be more careful about it.
Since this is an ongoing story here in the "burbs of Detroit, it is on the news a lot. At this point, the last I heard the original operator would probably be reprimanded (depending on the outcome of the investigation) but not fired. Sorry, her assuming that a child was making a prank call cost a woman her life and I really think that she should be fired.
I have no doubt that there are some very good 911 operators and some not so good operators. The problem is, when you call 911 for a life threatening situation, you expect to be taken seriously and get help. I am sure that if the police started arresting people and pressing charges against those (or the parents of those) that are either making prank calls or just playing with the phone, word would get out and people would be more careful about it.
Since this is an ongoing story here in the "burbs of Detroit, it is on the news a lot. At this point, the last I heard the original operator would probably be reprimanded (depending on the outcome of the investigation) but not fired. Sorry, her assuming that a child was making a prank call cost a woman her life and I really think that she should be fired.
Sandi
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LilacDragon
- Posts: 1382
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Six Year Old calls 911
Here is the link for the story including video.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/8617071/detail.html
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/8617071/detail.html
Sandi
Six Year Old calls 911
DETROIT - Two 911 operators who authorities say wrongly assumed it was a prank when a 5-year-old boy called to report that his mother had collapsed have been charged with neglect of duty.
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By the time an officer arrived, the boy's 46-year-old mother was dead.
"I understand they get a quite a few crank calls, but you have to take it seriously when someone calls 911," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Wednesday in announcing charges against Sharon Nichols, 43, and Terri Sutton, 47.
They could get a year in jail if convicted of the misdemeanor.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060607/ap_ ... ll_death_3
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By the time an officer arrived, the boy's 46-year-old mother was dead.
"I understand they get a quite a few crank calls, but you have to take it seriously when someone calls 911," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Wednesday in announcing charges against Sharon Nichols, 43, and Terri Sutton, 47.
They could get a year in jail if convicted of the misdemeanor.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060607/ap_ ... ll_death_3