Rude 911 operators
So my boyfriend is sick and yesterday he had an episode where he couldn’t breath. He was making this horrible wheezing sound and his eyes looked like they were sinking in because he was trying so hard to breath. I immediately dumped out my purse, grabbed my phone and called 911 (in Mississauga).
I told the woman that my boyfriend couldn’t breath and gave her my address. During the call he started to be able to breath normally again and coughed. She asked, “Is that him coughing?” I said it was, and that he was able to breath again. She started insinuating that I was lying about the reason I was calling for an ambulance. She said “I don’t get it, a minute ago you said he couldn’t breath, and now you’re saying that he’s fine.” It wasn’t until I started crying that she finally believed that I was telling the truth.
Now I know that these people probably get a lot of prank calls and people trying to abuse the system, but that doesn’t mean that they should make people feel that they shouldn’t have called when they’ve had a genuine emergency!
What happened to me is not nearly as bad as some stories I have heard. Recently, I read online that an operator from the US was sentenced to a year in jail because she dismissed a call from a 5 year old who was saying that his mother had passed out. She allegedly told him that it was just a prank and ended the call. They found the woman dead 3 hours later.
I also saw an emergency show on TV where a woman was being attacked by two big dogs. She called 911 and the operator let minutes go by while trying to figure out if it was a prank as the woman was being bitten and torn apart. They did finally rescue the woman….but come on!
This kind of thing should NOT happen. 911 is there for a reason. Action should be taken immediatly and the person should be treated with respect unless there is good reason to suspect otherwise.
If anyone has a similar story please post it in the comments section.
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know that these people probably get a lot of prank calls and people trying to abuse the system.
Comment by Credit card debt — January 26, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
I understand that, and I’m sure the operators get pressured by their bosses to to avoid false alarms, but it sucks for the people who really need help.
Comment by Aimee — January 27, 2008 @ 12:14 am
In my opinion maybe the staff of 911 is also pissed of prank calls. But its not proper for them to insinuate a person. Its their job to respond to calls. I think there’s no reason for them to get mad because they are being paid for it and its their duty anyway.
Comment by paulette — February 2, 2008 @ 11:56 pm
people shouldnt be prank calling 911 or other emergency numbers. they take up important time from other people who genuinely need help.
Comment by low interst credit — February 7, 2008 @ 9:17 pm