911 Emergency

This morning CNN International reported an incident where a customer of "Subway" called 911 to complain that his sandwich was not prepared the way he had ordered it. They broadcasted the audio of his call to 911.

I've heard about abuse/misuse of 911 but has anyone topped that?

Sometimes we wonder how/why people get certain impressions of a country. Often it is the media that does it with the reporting of sensational or absurd events. It certainly produced a good chuckle.

I've got a book of stupid 911 calls called What's the Number for 911 Again? People have called 911 to order pizzas, to ask how long a 24 hour virus will last, to ask where they can get rid of their christmas Tree, to find out what'll happen to their car when they park in front of a no parking sign, to make collect calls, to have phone sex, to ask for help with spelling, to ask for help opening beer bottles, to report being attacked by a six foot tall mosquito, to report the upstairs neighbors for making their bed squeak too loudly, to ask how they'll know if they loose their memory, and the best one of all, someone actually called 911 to ask what the emergency numbers were!

A policeman had been using the weed he confiscated for his own personal stash. He made some brownies that both he and his wife shared. Soon after he was heard on 911 explaining that he had overdosed and that he and his wife were dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnZb5wi_jsU

Explaining that he's dead? What'd he do, call from beyond the grave?

Gordon,
I suppose I'm behind the times. I wasn't aware that there are so many 911 incidents. I suppose there are lots of nut cases out there - not only in cyberspace.

I've heard of some of the crazy calls folks make. Nut cases abound, and all one can do is shake their head and hope they never get that bad. It is truly hard to believe. They must have had a bowl of stupid for breakfast!

My local station just reported the subway call. It seems the man called twice. First about the sauce not being on his sandwich and asking the police to come down to make sure it was made correctly, and second to complain that the officers were not responding. This time they responded and took the man into custody. Maybe this will teach him what 911 is really for!

And sometimes the stupidity is on the side of the 911 operator. This was in today's Atlanta Journal.

Woman on Phone Dies after 911 Operator Mistake

It isn't just 911 that gets these strange people.

When I worked for a major airline's reservation center (800 number) we received some pretty interesting calls as well.

We were not allowed to "just hang up" on them either.

And you wonder why you are put on hold for so long .....

Phil Whitley wrote:

And sometimes the stupidity is on the side of the 911 operator. This was in today's Atlanta Journal.

Woman on Phone Dies after 911 Operator Mistake

How very tragic. A difference in accents probably is responsible for the discrepancy here. I would not want to be a dispatcher anywhere. They are expected to know way more than I think my pea brain could hold. At least with a land line, your address shows up on their monitor.

There's a case where a pay phone had a sign on it saying that 911 calls were free so some idiot comes along and calls 911 hoping he can make a free phone call! And then there's the case of the guy who had 911 on speed dial on his cell phone which he kept in his back pocket. He was at a stadium cheering on his favorite team and in the process, dialed 911 several times with his butt! In another case, a drunken woman called 911 because her husband took away her car keys and refused to buy her more beer. When the police came, she asked them to buy her beer, and when they refused, she got angery and ultimately, the police had to arrest her. The book What's the Number for 911 Again? is full of weird and humerous cases like these.

There really is no accounting for some folks! JoElle I always wondered what was up with those lines, so thanks for clearing up the mystery!
I have a friend who is a 911 operator, and I think that she and her co-workers are collecting the wildest stories for a book of their own. I'm going to send a copy to you when it comes out Gordon.

I wonder if there is a police number code for "Officer reports himself dead"

lin wrote:

I wonder if there is a police number code for "Officer reports himself dead"

If the officer actually reported himself dead after he died, and it could be varified, it would be one of the greatest discoveries ever.

P. Gordon Kennedy wrote:

lin wrote:

I wonder if there is a police number code for "Officer reports himself dead"

If the officer actually reported himself dead after he died, and it could be varified, it would be one of the greatest discoveries ever.

It would be like that Edgar Allen Poe story "The Mesmerist" where a hypnotist tries to interview a dead person about the afterlife. One of my favs!

zadaconnaway wrote:

Phil Whitley wrote:

And sometimes the stupidity is on the side of the 911 operator. This was in today's Atlanta Journal.

Woman on Phone Dies after 911 Operator Mistake

How very tragic. A difference in accents probably is responsible for the discrepancy here. I would not want to be a dispatcher anywhere. They are expected to know way more than I think my pea brain could hold. At least with a land line, your address shows up on their monitor.

Actually this is one job I have not had.

I did apply to be a 911 dispatcher.

Figured I was qualified. I am very good at understanding many accents (from my airline job), I can multitask with a computer and phone (from my airline job), I was an EMT, worked as an ambulance dispatcher for a private ambulance company, can do shift work, I am bilingual, can type quickly and accurately. I don't have a criminal record, never been fired from a job, etc etc etc. I passed the Interpol requirements to get a passport and a HazMat endorsement on my CDL.

I passed the required P.O.S.T test. Had the second highest score in the group. Passed the group interview. Filled out the 26 pages of background history. And didn't get the job. Why? They won't tell me. But I am almost positive that my credit score wasn't high enough.

And then they go on the news and complain about their shortage of qualified operators. Go figure.

zadaconnaway wrote:

Phil Whitley wrote:

And sometimes the stupidity is on the side of the 911 operator. This was in today's Atlanta Journal.

Woman on Phone Dies after 911 Operator Mistake

How very tragic. A difference in accents probably is responsible for the discrepancy here. I would not want to be a dispatcher anywhere. They are expected to know way more than I think my pea brain could hold. At least with a land line, your address shows up on their monitor.

Zada,
Your posts tell me you are not a pea brain. You are quite brilliant.
Though we have cell phones, when I am home I do use my house phone. Old habit I guess. It might have made a big difference. Also, had the operator just verified the spelling of the street she probably would have caught the mistake.

Thank you JoElle. I do sometimes wonder at the skills some folks, like yourself, possess. I am also quite impressed with the intelligence and good sense (even though I don't always agree) that appears on this forum. Isn't it wonderful that we are all so different, and yet, in many ways so alike?

A few more dumb 911 calls to share from the book:
There was a little kid who called 911 because they couldn't figure out their math homework. Then there was the person who called to ask if anyone could unplug the coffee pot they left on at their house. And then there was the dummy who called to ask what day it was. Someone even called 911 to ask if they had to put money in the parking meter! And someone else called to report that their laxative gave them diarrhea!