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Fri 10 Feb, 2006 08:14 am
From Good Morning America
Feb. 10, 2006 ?- Every minute of every day, 380 people call 911. That's a staggering 200 million calls a year.
But now the nation's lifeline has a problem. In a surprising number of emergency calls, there's no emergency.
In Arlington County, Va., a 911 operator had someone call to ask whether it was "Tuesday or Wednesday" and answered: "That's not an emergency, but it's Tuesday." The county received another such call asking what time it was. It was 3:05 p.m.
Another caller needed help with the seasons.
"OK, I'm confused. We are only in the summertime, or we're still in the wintertime? I'm confused," said the caller.
"It's spring," replied the Arlington County 911 operator.
Although it sounds ridiculous, calls like these aren't unusual, 911 operator Joel Busbee says.
"It's all the time. It's rampant," he said.
After all, there are those who seem to think highly trained 911 operators have nothing better to do than deliver a pizza.
"I'd also like to be connected to Domino's Pizza please, in Arlington," said one 911 caller.
"That's not a, this is 911, 911 is for police and fire emergencies," the Arlington County 911 operator replied.
"Well I can't get through on the Pizza Hut line or 411," the caller said.
"OK, well, ma'am, 911 does not connect you to Domino's Pizza," the operator said.
The Prince George's County, Md., call center gets 150,000 nonemergency calls a year. But Vernon Herron, the county's public-safety director, says it's "a nationwide problem."
"People want to get their problem or the issue resolved as fast as possible, and 911 is a quick-fix solution," he said.
One woman from Prince George's County called 911 for emergency assistance retrieving her car keys from the trash.
She "wanted me to send a police officer to jump in the Dumpster looking for her keys," said Gerber Jimenez, the 911 operator who took the call.
A woman in Southern California called 911 because she didn't have it her way at Burger King.
"I asked them four different times to make me a Western Barbecue Burger. OK, they keep giving me a hamburger with lettuce, tomato and cheese, onions," she told the 911 operator.
She wanted operators to send a police officer.
"Ma'am, we're not gonna go down there and enforce your Western Bacon Cheeseburger," the 911 operator said.
Although these calls sound funny, they are a serious matter.
"They could be keeping us from responding to a true emergency, from saving someone's life," Herron said.
So, when should you call 911? If an accident just happened, and no one else is around, go ahead and call. But if you're on a busy road, chances are someone has already called. And if you see police, fire or ambulance already on the scene or if you hear sirens, obviously there's no need to call 911 ?- authorities already know.
But if you're on a busy road, chances are someone has already called
That seems like a ridiculous statement. Imagine some poor guy with his head through the windshield bleeding to death because 300 people assumed someone would call.
I had once read somewhere that 911 looks askance if you call them even to report an accident, if it is not serious, where there are no injuries. According to the article, you need to call the police at their regular number. How many people on the road would even KNOW the regular number for the police?
...chances are that all of those other folks also figured someone else has called.
""Ma'am, we're not gonna go down there and enforce your Western Bacon Cheeseburger," the 911 operator said. "
Only in America eh? Here in Blighty, our British Bobbies are only too willing to nip down the fish and chip shop to adjust the amount of vinegar on the chips.
Having trouble finding an electrician?...of course madam, here's one we shot earlier.
Steve (as 41oo) wrote:""Ma'am, we're not gonna go down there and enforce your Western Bacon Cheeseburger," the 911 operator said. "
Only in America eh? Here in Blighty, our British Bobbies are only too willing to nip down the fish and chip shop to adjust the amount of vinegar on the chips.
Having trouble finding an electrician?...of course madam, here's one we shot earlier.
Hey giv'em a break they did save
Tyrone the Tiger...
The rule is:
See something? CALL 911.
Do not ask if they already have a report on the incident.
(That's a waste of time.)
Report the incident as you witnessed it.
Answer the operator's questions.
Hang up and begin rendering asssistance to the victims.
==
Your report may contain information not offered by others.
Joe(Never assume the other gawkers are doing anything)Nation
Re: 911? I'd like to order a large pepperoni and mushroom.
Chai Tea wrote:"Ma'am, we're not gonna go down there and enforce your Western Bacon Cheeseburger," the 911 operator said.
Damn right, thats what the NSA is for.
yeah I remember getting stuck in that traffic jam
gustavratzenhofer wrote: But if you're on a busy road, chances are someone has already called
That seems like a ridiculous statement. Imagine some poor guy with his head through the windshield bleeding to death because 300 people assumed someone would call.
Yes, I thought the same thing.
Re the ridiculous calls, I wonder if they could implement a way to fine these people?
Also, with the advent of cell phones and multiple calls coming in from on the spot, I wonder how that could be avoided?
Screening takes time, they might be talking about a different accident.
On the occassions I've had to call 911, there is no more blessed sound than the sounds of sirens getting closer. I'd hate to think help was delayed over a pizza.