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Post by smalltowngirlie on Jan 2, 2023 12:02:48 GMT
In the What You Wish People Knew thread someone (sorry can't remember who) talked about being a 911 dispatcher and wished people knew the questions had to be asked. I have only had to be part of a 911 call once, for me a couple months ago. DH made the call and was giving all the info. The dispatcher insisted on talking to me. DH called because I was in so much pain I could not move. I was doing everything to not scream in pain. I was aware enough to have heard her ask DH all thr same questions she was asking me.
Is it typical to have to talk to the person having the emergency? She was asking the same questions. I admit I was not in a good place at that moment and having to talk to the 911 dispatcher was not helping me. I was focusing on not screaming.
She did say help was on the way.
FYI- I called because a hematoma developed in my knee from a fall earlier in the day. It is still healing but doing much better. The Dr was not joking when he said up to 6 months to fully heal.
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Post by mikklynn on Jan 2, 2023 12:04:52 GMT
They never asked to speak to DH when I called 911. I gave the information and they dispatched an ambulance.
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Post by christine58 on Jan 2, 2023 12:06:31 GMT
When I had to call 911 just about three years ago for my dad, it was the first time I’ve ever had to call them and I will admit I was a little panicked. However they didn’t need to talk to him they talked to me. They were a calming influence believe me. Some of the questions were annoying like do you have a dog, if you do make sure the dog is secured, make sure the driveway is clear so the ambulance can get in, and I was getting a little annoyed but I knew that they needed to ask those questions
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Post by KelleeM on Jan 2, 2023 12:33:51 GMT
I’ve called twice for medical emergencies. They never asked to speak to the person I was calling about.
I’m sure it was a very frustrating call when I had a coworker who had passed out and I couldn’t answer most of their questions because it was her first day at work.
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Post by don on Jan 2, 2023 12:43:49 GMT
when you call 911 they ask "what is your emergency?". as soon as you answer, help is on the way. then they ask the other questions so the emergency people kind of know what to expect.
of course they want to talk to the injured. who knows better how the injured actually feels and what happened?
put yourself in the responders shoes, what would you like to know? If you were told to go see the boss, wouldn't you like to have an idea of the topic?
I have to call 911 often, as wife won't let me pick her up when she falls down. because she is on home hospice, all the medics can do is pick her up and put her in bed or a chair. i also kennel my chi-weenie, because when anyone or thing moves in our yard, she goes right into doberman mode.
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Post by teacherlisa on Jan 2, 2023 14:38:20 GMT
Hi! I am the 911 dispatcher you referenced. I am going to try to answer/speak to what has been posted so far  As to your instance, and I absolutely hate to Monday morning quarterback another dispatcher when I am not him/her, do not work for his/her department or have knowledge of your specific incident. But for me/my department/national recommendations-that would be unusual. It is not necessary to speak to the person having the emergency. Some situations where that could come into play would be if your initial caller was uncooperative/unable to answer questions (we would ask, is anyone else there that may be able to answer questions?) or, if there was some reason to question the validity of the information. Sometimes we get unexplained "hinkey" feelings. I have spoken to parents who have murdered their child, then called for an ambulance. We read between lines/listen to background noise. I am not saying either of these instances apply to you-just that they would be instances when a dispatcher might ask to speak to someone else/or the person directly. In my personal family, an accidental 911 call was placed and the police interviewed everyone in the home separately to determine it was accidental. My poor cousin was like "no, my husband did not hurt me, no we are not arguing etc" DV was ignored for a very long time and people are now recognizing that. It can lead to over reaching sometimes, I think. It is actually national standard to ask "Where is the emergency" or "What is the location of the emergency" because even if I never get any more information , I can send help if I know where. If I only know what-I can not send anyone anywhere. Location location location. |
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,169 
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 2, 2023 14:53:57 GMT
I have had to call 911 for ds many times. They never asked to talked to him.
Dh had to call for me twice. Again, they spoke to dh not me.
I always start with my name and address and who I am calling for. Then tell them what and ehy I need.
Ex. My name is x and I live at x. I need an ambulance Stat as my ds's CVL (state what that is) line burst and bleed out. I am currently pinching it closed along with clamp and adding pressure to artery entrance at shoulder chest area with my other hand. He is forward facing and breathing well.
That one they stayed on the line with me. And PD showed up to take pics because blood.
They have also stayed on when he had a bad seizure and stopped breathing.
We are 2 min from an ambulance center and 3 from local Fire station. So we get help fast. FD usually arrives first.
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,048
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jan 2, 2023 15:22:08 GMT
I have had to call 911 twice and was never asked to give the phone to the person having the medical emergency.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,295
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Post by iowgirl on Jan 2, 2023 15:27:01 GMT
I haven't had to call 911 in many years. Had to call for a car accident that I witness way back in the late 80's.
I do call my local law enforcement Comm Centers. I live really near the county line between three counties. When I want a specific sheriff, I call that county's Comm Center. We had a combine/corn field fire starting and wanted a certain fire department dispatched, and if I had called 911 it would have taken much longer to get them in motion. We wanted a quick attack truck sent out ASAP from the closest FD and if I had called 911 it would have taken a lot longer to get things right and in motion (also knew the guy who drove the Quick Attack - so my husband was on the phone with him, but I called the Comm Center so he could get the official page). He was rolling our way before the page even went out to him. Lordy - those situations are S T R E S S F U L .... the adrenalin is pumping, as we are fighting the fire and trying to get our local department on the scene ASAP!
Around here, the ambulance response time is going to be a while. So, unless I am actively doing CPR or can't physically get the person in a vehicle, I'm loading them up and headed to the closest ER. I call ahead and tell them I am coming in. I have those numbers pre-programmed in. Luckily - nothing has ever been super serious for us.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Jan 2, 2023 15:47:52 GMT
Hi! I am the 911 dispatcher you referenced. I am going to try to answer/speak to what has been posted so far As to your instance, and I absolutely hate to Monday morning quarterback another dispatcher when I am not him/her, do not work for his/her department or have knowledge of your specific incident. But for me/my department/national recommendations-that would be unusual. It is not necessary to speak to the person having the emergency. Some situations where that could come into play would be if your initial caller was uncooperative/unable to answer questions (we would ask, is anyone else there that may be able to answer questions?) or, if there was some reason to question the validity of the information. Sometimes we get unexplained "hinkey" feelings. I have spoken to parents who have murdered their child, then called for an ambulance. We read between lines/listen to background noise. I am not saying either of these instances apply to you-just that they would be instances when a dispatcher might ask to speak to someone else/or the person directly. In my personal family, an accidental 911 call was placed and the police interviewed everyone in the home separately to determine it was accidental. My poor cousin was like "no, my husband did not hurt me, no we are not arguing etc" DV was ignored for a very long time and people are now recognizing that. It can lead to over reaching sometimes, I think. It is actually national standard to ask "Where is the emergency" or "What is the location of the emergency" because even if I never get any more information , I can send help if I know where. If I only know what-I can not send anyone anywhere. Location location location. Thank you. I totally understand a concern of DV since it was caused by a fall. I had so many ask me what happened that day. If she had asked me different questions from what she asked DH I may have understood also. She did ask my pain level, which she also asked DH, and it took everything in me not to answer in some snarky way. I called an ambulance it is way over a 10 at this point. I thought it was strange to have to talk to me, but luckily I don't have a lot of experience in this area so was unsure. Also, everyone else was great. The first officer to step into our house and saw my knee and said, "OH, wow". The poor EMT was thrown off a bit when I said morphine does nothing for me and to not put an IV in my elbow. DH said she is 53 years old and she knows what doesn't work for her. |
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Post by tommygirl on Jan 2, 2023 16:30:39 GMT
It must be a stressful job to be a 911 dispatcher. The little county where I live seems to always be advertising that they need to hire them.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,382
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Jan 4, 2023 3:13:58 GMT
Most of my calls have been reporting suspected drunks and domestic violence in moving cars. To me, if I follow you for 5-6 miles and you can’t stay in your lane (I call it bumper driving, like bumper bowling) you need to be checked. Whether you’re sleepy or drunk, you need to be checked. I also sat behind a car at a red light and watch a guy beat a woman. I called that one in and followed him. Not many medical emergencies here since I divorced.
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,189
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Post by pilcas on Jan 4, 2023 4:32:05 GMT
I called 911 last June when my mother fell and broke her hip. I was not asked to put her on the phone.
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Post by ntsf on Jan 4, 2023 4:59:39 GMT
I just want to note that when mr pelosi called 911, with an intruder in his home, the dispatcher recognized that there was danger.. it was never said in so many words .. and sent police on high response. mr pelosi was injured after the police arrived.
the police chief and the mayor called out the dispatcher for doing such a great job!! they need to be acknowledged more often!!!
I have called 911 several times, and other than trying to be able to give as much info as possible, I just answer what is asked.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jan 4, 2023 20:43:36 GMT
I've had to call before, and they always start with the location so they can get whatever help is necessary...rolling and enroute.
Then they get the details (someone fell, car accident, chest pains....then the victim info (age, are they conscious or unconscious, bleeding, etc...).
Then the safety details (is there a dog? Are the dogs secure?). They don't want to get bitten by a dog that is defense mode, protecting their human(s).
The questions are necessary to obtain information in regards to the situation, so the first responders know what to expect upon arrival.
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