I was going over some old EMS techniques and situations, and realized that I have lost it. I lost much of my knowledge of functioning in an EMS system. I can recall certain things, but I forgot things such as lead placement for the cardiac monitor. I know it is said every day, but the old saying you either use it or you lose it is true, believe me.
I don't know where I should start this blog. There are some things in life that area for sure, such as the seasons will change, and if it can happen it will, especially when you least expect it. I can always expect a call prior to severe weather from Charlie. Charlie is a middle aged single male in about his 50's who resides in a mobile home, with local TV, a police scanner, and several family members. Charlie always calls to see what we know about the weather and if their are any warnings out.
I can also always expect calls from Carolina, complaining about the kids playing basketball in the park after 10pm at night and it being a disturbance to her.
Then there is Hoggys, he calls about everything, ranging from talking to the officers about hauling junk, or suspected illegal activities. He himself finds himself in the not so bright light by allowing his 5 year old son to tell him what he wants to do. I am unsure how the child will come out in life considering, the son is going to have to raise himself. Since his mother and father are separated and they both are lacking in the education department. Jeffery calls up to speak to one of the officers who was an electrician about his heat not working, he calls because his smoke detector doesn't work, he was even told by his landlord not to call them for silly things any longer.
Then there is Janice, she is unique. Someone is always hitting on her door, or smoking cannabis cigarettes around her, because she can smell the odor. They do all sorts of bad things to her, including peel the paint on her car, which is probably entering its 20's, put rocks in her cigarette lighter in her car even with the doors locked. They even have removed the address numbers off of her mailbox. I know a terrible crime! She calls because the neighbors are looking at her wrong, and flipping her off, and telling her they are sending her to the psych hospital.
Another of my favorites is Jack, this old guy, I don't think has ever worked in his life, he once was on disability and went around mowing yards, on a riding lawn mower. I think he got caught an stopped mowing the yards. This guy believes his goal in life is to police the city. He locates more traffic violations, license plates expired, and other violations more than a rookie. He reported a drive by flipping off the other day, when someone gave him the bird. He reported a couple vehicles with improper license plates in the past. He continued to call and complain that if we weren't going to do our jobs then he would stop calling in complaints, and finally the suspects changed ther plates to the proper classifications.
Then there is another thorn in our side. This guy is unique also. He has been arrested for it all. He thinks the police are all out to get him, and we make up our own rules. He has been arrested for false calls, one in which he reported that someone held him up and stole his wedding ring. On another occassion he was arrested for stealing railroad property. He was once told by an officer about riding an ATV on railroad tracks and on his own property that he could be arrested. He didn't seem to understand, if he has a suspended license he isn't allowed to operate a motor vehicle at all. He called the police department saying the officer was just blowing smoke up his butt. He said he called the DMV who said he couldn't license an ATV. I don't think this genious understood what the officer had advised him. He a few weeks ago claimed an attack by a group of females and one of them looked like a guy. He called it in, and then refused to give a statement when the officer requested one. He said he would call the state police because we would just trump up some charges on him if he came up here. Well later the officer fell into a domestic fight between a couple girls, and one of them tells him that they had an interaction with the male subject in which he had shoved them and bothered them.
Tonight I was thinking about the difference in dispatching among agencies. One agency gets a certain baseline of details, if you are relaying to another agency, their protocol is to have even more. I understand the need for more, more and more information. But there is no standard. Some agencies run well with minimal information while others have to have the full details. Sometimes I feel as though I am stupid for not having the right answers for the person I am relaying information to. I miss the right questions, or miss getting enough maybe. I try to do it too fast, and lose out in the process. I relayed information to a neighboring dispatch recently and while I relayed the information I stopped at the end to see if they needed further, there was a long silence on the line, what seemed like a forever pause. I thought I lost connection or that they were waiting on more. So I added a few details or re-hit on a few. Later the dispatcher responded. I try to keep talking to who I am on the phone with. I take my notes on paper and enter into the computer once I am done. One of my co-workers insists on entering as she gets the information. And you can tell, she has long periods of silence on her phone calls. I hate that, and I would hate for someone to have to think I am thinking or not paying attention. I can type while I dispatch units, a few seconds of entering data are okay.
PS. The names are made up and faked, they are not even close to real names associated with the people they are representing.
Everyone have a great start to spring!
I don't know where I should start this blog. There are some things in life that area for sure, such as the seasons will change, and if it can happen it will, especially when you least expect it. I can always expect a call prior to severe weather from Charlie. Charlie is a middle aged single male in about his 50's who resides in a mobile home, with local TV, a police scanner, and several family members. Charlie always calls to see what we know about the weather and if their are any warnings out.
I can also always expect calls from Carolina, complaining about the kids playing basketball in the park after 10pm at night and it being a disturbance to her.
Then there is Hoggys, he calls about everything, ranging from talking to the officers about hauling junk, or suspected illegal activities. He himself finds himself in the not so bright light by allowing his 5 year old son to tell him what he wants to do. I am unsure how the child will come out in life considering, the son is going to have to raise himself. Since his mother and father are separated and they both are lacking in the education department. Jeffery calls up to speak to one of the officers who was an electrician about his heat not working, he calls because his smoke detector doesn't work, he was even told by his landlord not to call them for silly things any longer.
Then there is Janice, she is unique. Someone is always hitting on her door, or smoking cannabis cigarettes around her, because she can smell the odor. They do all sorts of bad things to her, including peel the paint on her car, which is probably entering its 20's, put rocks in her cigarette lighter in her car even with the doors locked. They even have removed the address numbers off of her mailbox. I know a terrible crime! She calls because the neighbors are looking at her wrong, and flipping her off, and telling her they are sending her to the psych hospital.
Another of my favorites is Jack, this old guy, I don't think has ever worked in his life, he once was on disability and went around mowing yards, on a riding lawn mower. I think he got caught an stopped mowing the yards. This guy believes his goal in life is to police the city. He locates more traffic violations, license plates expired, and other violations more than a rookie. He reported a drive by flipping off the other day, when someone gave him the bird. He reported a couple vehicles with improper license plates in the past. He continued to call and complain that if we weren't going to do our jobs then he would stop calling in complaints, and finally the suspects changed ther plates to the proper classifications.
Then there is another thorn in our side. This guy is unique also. He has been arrested for it all. He thinks the police are all out to get him, and we make up our own rules. He has been arrested for false calls, one in which he reported that someone held him up and stole his wedding ring. On another occassion he was arrested for stealing railroad property. He was once told by an officer about riding an ATV on railroad tracks and on his own property that he could be arrested. He didn't seem to understand, if he has a suspended license he isn't allowed to operate a motor vehicle at all. He called the police department saying the officer was just blowing smoke up his butt. He said he called the DMV who said he couldn't license an ATV. I don't think this genious understood what the officer had advised him. He a few weeks ago claimed an attack by a group of females and one of them looked like a guy. He called it in, and then refused to give a statement when the officer requested one. He said he would call the state police because we would just trump up some charges on him if he came up here. Well later the officer fell into a domestic fight between a couple girls, and one of them tells him that they had an interaction with the male subject in which he had shoved them and bothered them.
Tonight I was thinking about the difference in dispatching among agencies. One agency gets a certain baseline of details, if you are relaying to another agency, their protocol is to have even more. I understand the need for more, more and more information. But there is no standard. Some agencies run well with minimal information while others have to have the full details. Sometimes I feel as though I am stupid for not having the right answers for the person I am relaying information to. I miss the right questions, or miss getting enough maybe. I try to do it too fast, and lose out in the process. I relayed information to a neighboring dispatch recently and while I relayed the information I stopped at the end to see if they needed further, there was a long silence on the line, what seemed like a forever pause. I thought I lost connection or that they were waiting on more. So I added a few details or re-hit on a few. Later the dispatcher responded. I try to keep talking to who I am on the phone with. I take my notes on paper and enter into the computer once I am done. One of my co-workers insists on entering as she gets the information. And you can tell, she has long periods of silence on her phone calls. I hate that, and I would hate for someone to have to think I am thinking or not paying attention. I can type while I dispatch units, a few seconds of entering data are okay.
PS. The names are made up and faked, they are not even close to real names associated with the people they are representing.
Everyone have a great start to spring!