(I rediscovered this post today, and thought I would like to post it again. It is bittersweet, as I am no longer working as a 911 call taker – a job I dearly loved. But I can still look back on this call and be proud, and I want to share this story again. Disclaimer: Read More
Category: 911
My Day in Court – Testifying Against Misuse of 911
I had to go to court yesterday. And no, I didn’t do anything wrong; I wasn’t on trial. I had to testify against a guy from a neighboring county on trial for misuse of 911. Guess who was the *lucky* call taker on that gem of a call?!?!?! I knew a few months ago the Read More
Worthy or Worthless? – Single Mom Struggles
I have been struggling to feel worthy a lot lately … alternating between two extremes. Feeling worthy and confident one day, then worthless and rejected the next. The reason for this introspection? I lost my job. This was my job as a 911 call taker. The job that I loved and felt good about. The job where I Read More
911 Dispatcher Pet Peeves – Part 2
Short and sweet – I found another couple 911 dispatcher pet peeves to share with you. Here’s another installment of 911 dispatcher pet peeves. Are ya ready! People that call 911 to report someone laying on the ground, but are unable/unwilling to answer any questions about that person. They refuse to approach them to see Read More
Teenagers These Days (This momma was a little surprised)
I took a call last week from a mom that wanted to report her teenage daughter as missing. Her daughter was 17 years old and had been hiking with a 16 year old male friend at a local state park – the same one where I often go hiking. I took the information that we Read More
Speaking of Needy … Bad Choices
Speaking of needy … some people make really bad choices. (OK, this is kind of a continuation of another blog post, Why I Blog (in case you were curious) – Part 1 and Why I Blog – Part 2 ) I find myself marveling sometimes at the amount of people running around this world that Read More
Why I Blog – Part 2 (The Saga Continues)
Here we are again. It’s the second installment of posts where I try to explain to anyone who is listening (and to myself, as well) why I blog. (Here’s Part 1, if you haven’t read it yet – Why I Blog – Part 1) The biggest reason that I blog? I like to write; I Read More
Why I Blog – Part 1 (Just In Case You Were Wondering)
Why I blog. Why DO I blog? I wonder that myself, from time to time. When things get crazy, and I don’t have the time to devote to my blog that I would like. Or when I get sucked into writing for awhile, and I think I am doing really well … but no one Read More
911 Dispatcher Pet Peeves – My Version
I am sure that every 911 dispatcher and call taker has their particular list of “pet peeves” – those things that happen, day in and day out, that make you grind your teeth in frustration, or make you want to bang you forehead on your console. I haven’t been a call taker/dispatcher for very long, Read More
Funny Abbreviations from Dispatch
I think I mentioned in a previous post about dispatch being based on abbreviations and 3-letter acronyms. Well, I wanted to share a few of those with you. These are by no means all of them, and I may find more and add another post on this topic. But here are a few that I Read More
“There’s a Secret International Crime Society at the Motel”
Last call of the day yesterday, and it was worth the wait. 🙂 911 call came in, and I hear a female voice saying, “There’s a man at the door and he’s trying to kill me.” I immediately ask for her address, but she’s not listening. She’s just keeps repeating that a man is pounding on her Read More
Sometimes I Just Have No Words …
Every day, every shift, there are some calls that leave you at a loss for words. There is no training you are given that prepares you to deal with the off-the-wall questions and comments from callers. Many times I am stunned into silence because I have no idea how to respond to what is said. Read More
Don’t Leave Your Pet in the Car
One of the calls we see an increase in this time of year is the “animal locked in a car” call. Lots of people lock their pet in a car, thinking that they will “only be gone a minute.” What can happen in the span of a minute or two? It doesn’t take long for Read More
Just call me “Emergency Life Skills Coach”!
A female caller, wanting to file a report of harassment: Me – “What exactly are they doing to harass you?” Caller – “They are texting me, bragging about their new fiancé, and I’m tired of hearing about it.” Emergency Life Coach Powers – Activate! Me – “Did you tell them to stop? And have you considered contacting Read More
“74 YOF, PREGNANT” … Wait, What?!?!?!
Yeah, that’s what it looked like when I typed it yesterday at work. Not the “Wait, What?!?!?!?” part … but the reaction from the dispatcher and the medics was the same. Yeah, it’s time for a work story. 🙂 Call came in from a female that was moaning and groaning, and obviously in distress. I Read More