Time To Reiterate

This was part of my very first blog. And due to recent calls, time to reiterate (repeat for those who get tired of my using big words):

Remember: 9-1-1 is for life or death or crimes in progress EMERGENCIES ONLY!

If you can remember four small rules when you call 9-1-1 for help, it is much easier on you and the Dispatcher you are talking to:

#1 - In ten words or less, tell the Dispatcher what the emergency is.

"I was in an accident"

"There is a house on fire"

"I need an ambulance"

#2 - Tell the Dispatcher where you are.

Location, location, location. At all times be aware of where you are.

Whether it is confirming your home address, or the major streets

where the accident happened. Pay attention to your surroundings

and be prepared to say where the location is.

#3 - Shut Up!

There is no nice way to say this. It is now time to be quiet

so the Dispatcher can ask the questions and gather the important

information from you. You want to tell them everything, but

there are pieces of information we need to know NOW. You

can share the rest of the story later.

#4 - Breathe!!

Don't forget to breathe! You're heart is racing, the adrenaline is

pumping! And it's hard to think when all the blood is racing

to your vital organs in preparation for fight or flight, a natural

physio response. But the Dispatcher needs your blood going

to your head and brain so they can get the information they need

for the officers. Remember to take a deep breath. And another.

Awwww...... feel much better. Now, if I could only get this information into the hands of those idiots who call 9-1-1 because they're too lazy to look up the non-emergency phone number or keep the phones (cell and landline) out of the reach of little kids who like to press buttons. There are play phones out there you can give kids to play with that won't waste so much of my time. Your fix-it ticket is not an emergency, even if you have to be in traffic court tomorrow about it.

Am I right Fellow Dispatchers?!?!?

You're Kidding Me, Right?

Once again, in an attempt to track down an owner of a vehicle the address belongs to the adult child who no longer lives at that address. And once again the parent doesn't know his child's phone number or address. But at least this time the parent had it written down somewhere. So many times the parent doesn't even have that information.

One excuse for parents to not know the basic contact information for their adult children is they move around a lot. But yet, all these adult children have cell phones. So their phone number isn't changing as regular as their physical address.

I am the parent of adult children. Cell phone numbers are easy to remember. And it is easy enough to write down or key in the ever changing address in my own cell phone or store in wallet.

Get a clue folks. Even if your child does not live with you, be aware of where they live and how to get in contact with them. Who knows, your local law enforcement agency might need to make contact with them for an emergency. Or your family might have a life or death emergency and you need to contact them quickly and easily.