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Dispatchers are heroes, make their jobs easier |
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January 26, 2018 |
By Sergeant Foster Mayo
Boundary County Sheriff's Office
“9-1-1, What is your emergency?”
“Do you know how long the power will be out?”
“No.”
“9-1-1, What is your emergency?”
“Do you know the road conditions between Boise
and Salt Lake City?”
“No.”
“9-1-1, What is your emergency?
“Do you know what time the parade starts
tomorrow?”
“Yes. Noon.”
“9-1-1. What is your emergency?”
“I think my husband is having a heart attack.”
“Is he breathing?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Do you know CPR?”
“No.”
“9-1-1, What is your emergency?”
“There has just been an accident.”
“Are there any injuries, where is the accident?”
“Behind the Home Depot.”
“What Home Depot?”
“Well, how many Home Depots are there in Coeur
d’Alene?”
“9-1-1, What is your emergency?”
“If you have Prince Albert in the can, you
better let him out. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA”
“Young man, the knock on the door will be the
police wanting to talk to you about ‘Abuse of
9-1-1.’”
(Click) (Dial tone)
“9-1-1, What is your emergency?”
“My Grandma has fallen down and I can’t get her
up!”
“Do you know where you live?”
“Yes, but I am at Grandma’s.”
“Do you know where Grandma lives?”
“Yes, in a white house.”
“9-1-1, What is your emergency?”
“HELP!” and the sound of children screaming in
the background.
“Take a deep breath and lower your voice, I
can’t understand you if you are screaming.”
More SCREAMING, the sound of someone gasping for
breath.
“Officers are in route to your address. Can you
tell me what’s going on?”
The sound of three gunshots followed by the
sound of the phone hitting the floor, more
screaming, then a dial tone ...
A typical day for an emergency dispatcher means
taking calls like these. Yet there is hardly a
day that goes by that 9-1-1 somewhere is not
credited with saving someone’s life.
If someone were to look up the definition of
“unsung heroes” in the dictionary, you might
find a picture of our local sheriff's
dispatchers. They are some of the most important
people in our lives.
Please only use 9-1-1 when there is a true
emergency. Teach your children how and when to
use 9-1-1.
Take first aid classes, learn CPR, build a first
aid kit for your home and each car. Put
blankets, water and other winter survival gear
in your car. Practice mock emergencies at home.
Have family members cross trained to use the
phone, turn on the porch lights, administer CPR,
apply tourniquets.
Look it up, check it out! Get prepared! You
might just save a life!
Sergeant Mayo retired from Salt Lake City Police
Department and then worked for several years as
a Bonners Ferry Police Officer, finally
“retiring” as Deputy Chief. He continues to
serve Boundary County as a volunteer in the role
of Reserve Sergeant with the Sheriff's Office. |
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