Speechless
here goes. This morning, was the first significant snow storm for Vermont. I guess people here in the north country have forgotten how to drive. Which doesn't surprise me, because a lot of people forget how to drive when the snow flies, at least for the first time. Then they seem to remember around Mid-March, early April, when its finallly DONE snowing. So a quick recap of last nights 12 hour shift. between the hours of 11, and 6 this morning, I did one accident call. it was for a girl who ends up getting arrested for DUI. Then the show started this morning in Vermont, around 5:00. The snow started falling as if someone had turned on a switch, we all knew it was coming, but did that make it any better. no. 5:45,
Hartford administration calls and lets me know that there isn't any school, incase people call. 5:50, a lady calls, and asks if there is school. I told her no. she asked why it wasn't all over the news. I had been waiting to use this line for the longest time now. I told her I didn't know. and she asked me why. I simply replied..... " Ma'am I'm Just a dispatcher." and hung up the phone. I don't know who was more shocked, Capt Rich, or her. He got a good smile out of the deal. and so did I. I love that line... when the cops come to you asking for answers, and you don't know..... just use that line " I'm just a dispatcher". The call volume starts to increase, around 6:16, but nothing too extreme. I get a call from Hanover dispatch. They want to give me a heads up, because there is a accident, for proably Norwich fire on 91... right at the town line on the line. but they weren't sure. I told them once they got confrimation, that this was in Norwich, and not Bradford, or Thetford. to call me back and I will get the troops going. 10 minutes I start with the first calls for the day. Hanover Dispatch. calls, auto accident. car over the ledge. unknown injuries.... in Norwich. Engine 1 goes up to 91. Engine 3 from NFD signs on for 91, and I called car 2 asked what he would like, and kinda started dispatching like I saw in G'land. "norwich engine 3, norwich fast squad, norwich police units 14, and 12....." caught Capt. Dave off guard, how calm I managed to stay during this storm. then it slowly escalates. I have two norwich calls going on at the same time. then Hanover calls again ( reminds me of days when I was dispatching for the hawk in schdy and had to listen to Gerding call over and over again for ambulances) and has a THIRD accident going on. SHIT SHIT SHIT. "Norwich C2, hartford dispatch. I have a third accident....." gave him the address, and off the volleys go. still no break in me. I get extra help ( thanks Mark LaRoche for coming and answering phones), and thank god. The calls didn't stop for the next 5 hours.
The last call that freaked me out. was a 911 call for a 25 year old female over dosed on sleeping pills. she wasn't too bad, dispatched the ambulance from the road ( they were out on the interstate for a reported MVA). They start going, mom doesn't want to stay on the phone with me. I get another 911 call for a mva in south royalton. I dispatch SoRo fire and rescue for that call. Mom calls me back. "my daughter just collapsed. she's barely breathing" I grabbed the blue book, opened it, gave mom EMD instructions. meanwhile reassuring her that the ambulance was on the way. I ask a few questions about medical history, and this the same girl who got arrested last night for DUI.. need I say anymore? Apparently, for this call I had a audience. Chief Etsey, Karl, Capt. Rich, Mark LaRoche, and Jim Beraldi. sorry Jim, didn't mean for you not to be able to get a data in or you couldn't ask a question. I stayed "frightingly calm" and after I was done, when the ambulance got there. I hung the phone up, and had blank stares from everyone, because I just impressed the hell out of them...
ok, I am going out to dinner, and relax and forget about work for a while...
laters
Hartford administration calls and lets me know that there isn't any school, incase people call. 5:50, a lady calls, and asks if there is school. I told her no. she asked why it wasn't all over the news. I had been waiting to use this line for the longest time now. I told her I didn't know. and she asked me why. I simply replied..... " Ma'am I'm Just a dispatcher." and hung up the phone. I don't know who was more shocked, Capt Rich, or her. He got a good smile out of the deal. and so did I. I love that line... when the cops come to you asking for answers, and you don't know..... just use that line " I'm just a dispatcher". The call volume starts to increase, around 6:16, but nothing too extreme. I get a call from Hanover dispatch. They want to give me a heads up, because there is a accident, for proably Norwich fire on 91... right at the town line on the line. but they weren't sure. I told them once they got confrimation, that this was in Norwich, and not Bradford, or Thetford. to call me back and I will get the troops going. 10 minutes I start with the first calls for the day. Hanover Dispatch. calls, auto accident. car over the ledge. unknown injuries.... in Norwich. Engine 1 goes up to 91. Engine 3 from NFD signs on for 91, and I called car 2 asked what he would like, and kinda started dispatching like I saw in G'land. "norwich engine 3, norwich fast squad, norwich police units 14, and 12....." caught Capt. Dave off guard, how calm I managed to stay during this storm. then it slowly escalates. I have two norwich calls going on at the same time. then Hanover calls again ( reminds me of days when I was dispatching for the hawk in schdy and had to listen to Gerding call over and over again for ambulances) and has a THIRD accident going on. SHIT SHIT SHIT. "Norwich C2, hartford dispatch. I have a third accident....." gave him the address, and off the volleys go. still no break in me. I get extra help ( thanks Mark LaRoche for coming and answering phones), and thank god. The calls didn't stop for the next 5 hours.
The last call that freaked me out. was a 911 call for a 25 year old female over dosed on sleeping pills. she wasn't too bad, dispatched the ambulance from the road ( they were out on the interstate for a reported MVA). They start going, mom doesn't want to stay on the phone with me. I get another 911 call for a mva in south royalton. I dispatch SoRo fire and rescue for that call. Mom calls me back. "my daughter just collapsed. she's barely breathing" I grabbed the blue book, opened it, gave mom EMD instructions. meanwhile reassuring her that the ambulance was on the way. I ask a few questions about medical history, and this the same girl who got arrested last night for DUI.. need I say anymore? Apparently, for this call I had a audience. Chief Etsey, Karl, Capt. Rich, Mark LaRoche, and Jim Beraldi. sorry Jim, didn't mean for you not to be able to get a data in or you couldn't ask a question. I stayed "frightingly calm" and after I was done, when the ambulance got there. I hung the phone up, and had blank stares from everyone, because I just impressed the hell out of them...
ok, I am going out to dinner, and relax and forget about work for a while...
laters