Limited resources

When the demand is high, the supply is usually low.

This holds true for services just as it does for goods. Depending on the hour for emergency services this can be more prominent than not.  

In dispatch, the night has crept by with only four calls in the past three hours. As the time showing on the clock is 02:59 in the morning. Tyler and Cassidy have been taking advantage of the down time to review some less encountered scenarios.

As the phone rings…

Tyler: “9-1-1, Where is your emergency?”

Caller: “Sorry, I am not sure how my phone called you, it was in my pocket.”

Tyler verified the caller’s information and made documentation of an accidental call.

03:02

Cassidy: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”

Caller: “I am at home and there is something wrong with my husband.”

Cassidy quickly verified the address and phone number.

Cassidy: “What is exactly happening with him?”

Caller: “John just woke up in a sweat and isn’t making any sense when he talks.”

While Cassidy was obtaining more information Tyler was notifying EMS and first responders. Tyler was updating responding units as Cassidy obtained more information. Cassidy continued to provide instructions to the caller as the phone begins to ring again.

Tyler: “9-1-1, Where is your emergency?”

Caller: “We just got to my daughter’s house; we need an ambulance she is going into labor!”

Tyler verified the information and asked a few questions, finding out that this is a 23-year-old that is four days past her date. Her husband happens to be a volunteer firefighter that was called out on a house fire earlier. Her parents arrived in time to call in, and advised she was about to give birth. Cassidy, while still on the phone with her caller, was able to see the call that Tyler had. She quickly dispatched EMS to the address. Dispatch headsets make it possible for this multitasking to take place. The caller does not hear her talking on the radio, but Cassidy can still hear the caller if something happens or changes.  Tyler began to ask more questions and instructed the caller on what to do. As the medical responders walked into the house with John and his wife, Cassidy released the call. She quickly updated the responding units on the childbirth call.

Time is now 03:24, Tyler is talking to the soon to be grandma (Wonda), walking her through step-by-step instructions. As the phone rings…

Cassidy: “9-1-1, Where is your emergency?”

Caller: “I need an ambulance to come check out my foot.”

Cassidy: “What is your address?”

Caller: “I am here in the Licking area.”

Cassidy was able to obtain and verify an address and phone number from the caller – Jasmin.

Cassidy: “Jasmin, what exactly happened to your foot?”

Jasmin: “Well, the other day, I hit my toe on the coffee table, and it has been hurting since then. I just got up to get a drink and it is still not any better. Will you just send them over to check it out?”

Cassidy: “I will send an ambulance, I do have a few more questions before they get there. Also, it looks like they will be responding from outside of Licking.”

Jasmin: “I am not interested in your questions, and I know there is an ambulance right inside of Licking, send them.”

Cassidy: “There is an ambulance based in Licking; however they are on an emergency call right now, so I will send the next closest ambulance. Do you have any other pain or injuries besides your toe?”

Jasmin: “I pay my taxes, and I want the ambulance here now!”

As Cassidy was about to explain to Jasmin that an ambulance would be responding just from a little further away, the caller hung up. Cassidy dispatched EMS with the limited information she had. As she hears Tyler instructing Wonda what to do as the baby’s head is crowning. Cassidy keys up on the radio to give the responding ambulance updated information.

The time is now 03:31. As Tyler keys up on the radio…

Tyler: “Texas County 9-1-1 to Unit 24, the child has been delivered.”

Cassidy: “Texas County 9-1-1 to Unit 23, status check.”

Unit 24 is about two minutes away from the newborn. Unit 23 is still on scene with John and is now asking for a helicopter to land at the scene. Cassidy calls the closest helicopter service to get one lifted. Tyler is relaying some last instructions to Wonda as the medic from the ambulance is walking into the house.

Wonda: “Thank you so much for your help, we have our first granddaughter!”

Tyler: “You’re welcome, I will let you talk with the EMS crew, and they will help you from here. Congratulations.”

Tyler hangs up the phone and immediately dispatches the fire department to set up a landing zone close to the other residence.

As the phone rings.

Cassidy: “9-1-1, Where is your emergency?”

Jasmin: “Why isn’t the ambulance here yet? I called 30 minutes ago and this is just ridiculous. I could be dying, and no one is here yet.”

Cassidy: “The ambulance is on the way. I know it seems like time slows down when you are experiencing an emergency, or waiting, but they are on the way.”

Jasmin: “I know it has been at least 30 minutes. If you don’t get them here, I will have your job!”

Before Cassidy was able to ask any other questions or provide information on the ambulance, Jasmin hung up again. Approximately twenty minutes later, an ambulance arrived. Jasmin declined to be transported to the hospital by them. However, she was taken to the hospital by her husband. It is not known what was wrong with her foot, but the working theory is that she stubbed her toe.

Texas County is a very large land area, in fact the largest in the state of Missouri. However, for the population, we are not. With that, it limits the resources that are in the area for many reasons, but mostly funding possibilities. There are four ambulances based throughout Texas County. When more than one emergency in the county occurs in a short time frame or a major accident requiring more than one ambulance happens, all resources are used.  This may lead to a longer waiting time than what one has experienced in the past. Even though resources are limited, the emergency departments are all staffed with caring citizens that strive to help those in need every second of the day. Sometimes leaving their own families to help yours.

Dispatchers, the first, first responders that answer every call, with a calm voice, are on a constant vigil. They are continuously aware where all the resources are located and ensuring the safety of everyone. They may have one or multiple events going on at the same time but when you call in with your emergency it is their emergency also, no matter how minor it may seem to others.

The Texas County Emergency Services office in Houston is funded by a 3/8-cent countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2013. Director Terra Culley can be reached by phone at 417-967-5309 or by email at terraculley911@hotmail.com.