What would have happened in NZ

[Sniper]

This story is pretty shocking to say the least. I can see where the operator is coming from in that he thought it was a hoax, but even then, send someone out to check it out and charge the parents if he was wrong.

I feel sorry for that child now, he will never have trust in these services again and proberbly cause a problem in future. But thats my opinion, what do you think?

911 Operater Tells Boy Not to Play With Phone as His Mother Dies Saturday, April 08, 2006

DETROIT — A 5-year-old boy called 911 to report that his mother had collapsed in their apartment, but an operator told him he should not be playing on the phone, and she died before help arrived.

The family of Sherrill Turner, 46, does not know whether a swifter response could have saved her life, but relatives want to know why the operator apparently treated the call as if it were a prank.

Police said the 911 response was under investigation.

Turner's son, Robert, placed two calls to 911 after his mother collapsed Feb. 20 on the kitchen floor. During one of the calls, an operator said: "You shouldn't be playing on the phone."

In a tape of the call, parts of which were broadcast by Detroit-area television stations, the operator said: "Now put her on the phone before I send the police out there to knock on the door and you gonna be in trouble."

In an audio of the tape played on TV, some of what the boy says is unintelligible.

Delaina Patterson, the eldest of Turner's 10 children, said police did not arrive until three hours later. She said only Robert and his mother were home at the time.

Detroit police spokesman James Tate said it was at least an hour before authorities arrived, but he said he did not have details. By that time, the boy's mother had died, he said.

"The operator may have believed he was playing on the phone," Tate said.

Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings said it was important not to rush to judgment.

"If disciplinary action is recommended following the completion of the investigation, then that is the course that will be taken," she said.

The 911 operator remains on the job amid the investigation, Tate said.

[Macktheknife]

Poor bugger, not that good for the operator either eh?

[WRT]

If it had happened in NZ? They'd probably have dispatched a taxi, to the wrong address.

This is a very unfortunate event, I feel for all involved, but I can understand how it could happen. The operator has to make a judgement call based on what s/he hears over the phone, and unfortunately this time they made a mistake. The boy has to deal with the consequences, and so does the operator.

Man, that poor kid tho.

[Colapop]

Heard the actual call on the radio this morning. I thought the operators were disgusting. Their attitude was that this kid was playing and the only solution was to scare him off by sending the cops round there. Unfortunately too late for the mother. What a courageous little man. Being an emergency operator is not a job I'd call stress free but in this case they should have been a lot more proactive.

[Paul in NZ]

Could easily happen here because so many calls to 111 are stupid pranks or kids playing. Happens every hour of every day!

I feel sorry for the operator. They need to make a call on this daily and eventually they will get it wrong!

[Smorg]

It does happen in NZ different circumstanes but in essence the exact same problem.

Sending out taxi's instead of police units = girl goes missing presumed dead in the bush somewhere in Piha

Better to be a waste of police, fire & ambulance resources than to have a lifes lost because some operator on the other end of the line decided they decided they knew better and decided to play god

[Sniper]

Rememeber as well. Polideman on the beat have to use their discretion when it comes to dealing with someone offending. This guy thought he was doing well. Unfortuatly it backfired.

[scumdog]

Easy to understand, we get so many '111 hang-up' call outs cause by kids!

And often when the parent realises what the kid has done they diconnect the phone for a bit to stop it happening again - and then of course there's no way to call back to check what is going on.

Easier to happen in NZ as a toddler can easily press 1-1-1- whereas in US it takes a little more effort to accidently press 9-1-1.

[Winston001]

Easier to happen in NZ as a toddler can easily press 1-1-1- whereas in US it takes a little more effort to accidently press 9-1-1.

Yep. My kids did it one day. My complete sympathy is with the operator. Sad for the child and the mother but we don't live in a perfect world.

Tell me guys - you happy to pay heaps more tax for emergency response every time my child accidently dials 111?

[Hitcher]

I thought that some parts of the US had a policy of sending Police to check all 911 calls that could not be resolved by the operator?

[Patrick]

If it had happened in NZ? They'd probably have dispatched a taxi, to the wrong address.

Nah...mum didn't sound drunk wanting a free ride instead of paying a $100 taxi fare, just like dozens of similar calls like ASHERS are made on any given Friday and Saturday night, but her one turned out to be the real McCoy. Who was to know...

Kids do it all the time for fun, hundreds of calls a year here in NZ alone.

Not just kids tho. Worked at Aucklands Control Room... 111 calls from people asking what is the time, what are the Lotto numbers, what is the rugby score, others just to abuse Police but using the 111 system to do so...and plently of drunks (males mostly) making shit calls about being threatened/followed just to get a free ride and admitting it was crap just so they can get a free ride during the drive homeward... Turn the heaters on full and watch them doze off, quick trip into the wops, screech to a halt and turn the red and blues on, yelling at them to get out coz you gotta go to an emergency...they leap out in half a daze and wonder where the hell they are in the middle of nowhere about 5 minutes later..... better than charging them with wasting police time.... and funnier too!

Poor little bugger though in this one, did all the right things. Shame he was so young and couldn't bollox her...

[Patrick]

I thought that some parts of the US had a policy of sending Police to check all 911 calls that could not be resolved by the operator?

They do here...but you gotta prioritise. But watch this turn into another cop bash thread...

[Sniper]

This wasn't intended as a cop bashing thread

[Patrick]

This wasn't intended as a cop bashing thread

time will tell....

[BuFfY]

I heard it on the radio this morning aswell... had tears in my eyes... the poor wee kid "my mum has passed out" "put her on the fone, i need to talk to your mum" Oh my god he just said she had passed out!

Children need to be taught how to make calls like this... When I was on my first placement the children actually practised doing this and the teacher read them a lil story book about what to do.