The challenges of emergency calls

 I used to be pretty superstitious.   I used to believe that what someone else or myself did caused a chain reaction.  And at some point I figured out things happen when they happen and no matter what food I chose to eat, what item I touched, or even what clothes I wore was going to affect that.    Holidays are that way in dispatch, some co-workers believe that just the holiday is going to be a negative day.  I try to come in and stay level headed and without bias.   July 4th, I was really surprised that I took not a single fireworks complaint call.  Yes, I had one the night prior but not on the 4th! We had a reported accident, units all responded and found the vehicle but not the driver.  I guess someone had picked up the driver and left the accident.       Another day closer to vacation and I am in vacation mode.   I realized that I had not yet done my monthly dispatch training, so I logged on and com...

 I think everyone who works in public safety will agree there are holidays you don't mind working, while others you dread.   The 4th of July is one you really cannot ever bet on being the same.   The law enforcement side we get all sorts of driving complaints, family disputes, alcohol induced fights, child disputes and vehicle accidents related to alcohol.   And on the medical and fire side we often see overlapping issues from accidents, and fights, to those involving issues from firework related accidents. Some years back I had taken a call from the ambulance crew who was staged at one of the local fire works displays.  It was when they radioed I knew something was wrong.   The traffic was to relay that they were going to make there way through the crowd towards an area where a firework had been misguided and instead of going up and went horizontal and into the crowd.   The result was several people getting burned.  The r...

 Tonight, my first call of the night was very important.  It was an older lady who wanted to complain about fireworks.  It wasn't that they were annoying to her animals like some.  This one was upset because as she stated it knocked the power out to her garage earlier because of the vibration from the explosions.   I had to laugh before I assigned it, thinking if your electric goes out due to vibration from fireworks would it not also go out during a thunderstorm? We have a reported stolen vehicle this weekend.  No one knows where it went but the suspect had direct access to the keys left on a nail in the house where has been staying over a week.   Of course the family denies he was given permission to drive or operate the vehicle.    The officers located a missing kids that has been running for some time this weekend so there is that as a plus. On the negative I tested positive for COVID last week.    I had no major sympt...

 This shift started like most, a smooth change over from the prior shift.   I arrived on time and my co-worker presented the normal change over, and wanted me to review a call that had been placed by a male who has been the victim of abuse by his wife.   He was upset that he felt as though the abuse he has endured has been overlooked and ignored.   He reported that she had beat on him but it was not in our jurisdiction.  I recall several instances where they have had domestic altercations and nearly every time neither one of them had wished to pursue charges.   They always downplayed it to just verbal arguments and went on without wanting to provide statements.   At some point during his call a couple of officers were talking and joking around in the background and the caller became upset saying he is tired of being laughed at and made fun of because he is a man and a victim of abuse.   He insisted on speaking with th...

This year has not been terrible.   It has been kind of dry for overtime at work though.   We actually have been fully staffed since last year.  A lot changed in the past year family wise, we have lost a few loved ones and thought we were losing another who made a recovery.   We all have had our issues with sickness, and family struggles.     I ended up with COVID although only a small group knew about it.  I'm not sure exactly when it was, but I think it was earlier this year.  I had started feeling bad on Friday it felt like a cold to me, but then I felt weak almost like the flu.  I just wanted to sleep.  At some point my wife decided to check my temperature and we determined that I was running just over 100 degrees.   I slept nearly an entire day.  I had terrible muscle aches and a bit of a cough and nasal congestion.   It cleared up mostly by about the 3rd day.  I happened to be off wo...

It has been a really long time since I last posted a blog, and I am not even sure anyone ever reads these.  I know I mention that quite often.   This was week is a little shorter than normal.   I had taken an extra day off over the weekend and enjoyed my day off.   My shift Monday was rather usual, nothing significant. Tuesday on the other hand was a fiery mess.   One of the agencies was out on a traffic stop and requested additional assistance, and then changed their mind and said they no longer needed help.  They then again requested help but only for transporting the suspects to the jail.   It was during this time a 911 call came in where as it was answered someone says "You are going to jail" and then the phone disconnects.   I call back and a woman answers and said it was accidental.  I go through the normal questions trying to establish whom I was speaking with at this point the person on the other end deci...