Your Rare Opportunity To Hear 911 And Visualize

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Dec 07 2019 8:09 PM

DOTHAN - HOUSTON COUNTY & ALL AROUND:    This audio you here on this recording is that of a prank 911 call to Dothan 911 Center. That audio has been spread around in efforts to identify the prank caller.

The purpose of this article is different. The purpose is to explain something people complain about and a good chance for a explanation of 911.

CLICK FOR LINK TO AUDIO

In the 911 Centers there are multiple dispatchers. The one receiving the call ( answering the phone ) and talking to the person who called 911 is not the dispatcher rolling emergency units and help.

A requirement to be in the 911 Center is typng speed. As the 911 dispatcher is talking to the caller he/she is typing that information into the computer. At a certian spot of the preliminary information the call data is "pushed" to the dispatchr of the appropriate emergency units, Police - Fire - EMS. 

The dispatcher is asking questions to alert the appropriate responders of what is going on. Again though, the person asking the questions is typing the information and the dispatcher at the next work station is advising the Police - Fire and EMS of the updates.

The dispatcher is also trained in what is referred to as "EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH". That is they have cards for many emergencies and trained to step the caller through measures to attempt to save the life.

As you can tell the dispatcher does not pressure the caller but is caring and compassionate. Once the life saving instructions are initiated that dispatcher is committed only to that one call until emergency units arrive on the scene. That call "is" the only focus of that 911 dispatcher.

EXAMPLE OF THIS PARTICULAR CALL...  this call is a firearm assault. The preliminary date is typed into the computer. Simutaneously one dispatcher has pressed the emergency tones on law enforcement which alerts all on the radio the dispatcher is about to give emergency response information...and that goes something like:

" ALL UNITS FIREARM ASSAULT ON LIGHTHOUSE DRIVE A 9 YEAR WITH GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD PERSON REPORTING ADVISED WAS SHOT BY HIS 15 YEAR OLD BROTHER WHO IS NO LONGER IN THE HOUSE, LAST SEEN RUNNING FROM THE BACK DOOR UNKNOWN DIRETION OF TRAVEL, LAST SEEN WEARING ( DESCRIPTION OF CLOTHING ), FIREARM NEXT TO VICTIM, CALLER REFUSES CPR".

That is not the exact wording but you get the meaning.

On the fire and EMS side, somewhat the same information but with instructions to "stage", park near the scene but do not enter the scene until law enforcement arrives and declares the scene safe for EMS and Fire entry.

On this type of call law enforcement is rolling from all over, some to the scene and some to the area to attempt to locate the suspect or suspects. Once the law enforcement officers have arrived and feel the scene is safe, they will instruct fire and EMS to enter the scene.

RESPONSE... seconds count in saving of lives. Law Enforcement Officers are doing all they can humanly do to arrive fast but safe. The 911 Center is constantly updating the officers with more information as the caller can provide. Amazing how information changes as things are developing but the information given to responding units is only as good as the caller gives to the 911 Center. 

This particular call, when units arrived nothing found. The 911 Dispatcher is now thinking as fast as law enforcement. They call the School Resource Officer of the nearest school and the nearest school where the student age matches. Fishing for information. The Dothan 911 Center, when the Patrol Supervisor asked about contacting the School Resource Officer, was able to tell the Patrol Shift already have and.....

Officers went to both hospitals. As Southeast Health there was a white male adult with a self inflicted gunshot wound to the hand, but not a black male 9 year old. And if on Lighouse Drive when it occured and the family carried on their own vehicle, Flowers Hospital is near the location given to the 911 Center. But in emergencies people panick so what makes the most sense is not always what happens.

DO NOT GET AGGRAVATED WHEN THE 911 CENTER IS ASKING QUESTIONS... tonight at the structure fire one person said they knew fire response was like 5 minutes it seems forever. And it does. But hopefully the explanation and your rare opportunity to hear the 911 Center and the caller, makes a person understand how the information flow goes. 

In my 44 years, I am of the opinion the most important ingredient in the emergency operatons is the 911 Center. The link of the citizens to emergency services, the link of the emergency services to as near accurate information given to the responders as available, the crucial seconds in that appropriate responders for the emergency are dispatched and rolling.

They are the connection between the entire system,  but often times the least appreciated and focused on of the entire emergency services network.

A chance for an explanation of how things work.

IN CLOSING...  you have listened to the call, heard the questions asked, and I have given you an explanation of how things work. Emergency responders are flying and screaming to save a life. In the response, they then find your house does not have the reflective numbers at the street in order to find the location. FRUSTRATING...so if your home or business does not have the street number on the mailbox or at the street, get them there.

Your life could depend on it!!!!!!

APPLY FOR A JOB WITH THE 911 CENTER...   a lot of people can not handle the fast paced job and the constant change from quiet to wide open in seconds, and the job when you never know when or what is going to present itself. But if you think you can, it is rewarding.

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