It is that time of year! Summer fun, vacations and experiences with family.
Exciting plans for many, no matter if it is near or far. Are you ready for all the possibilities? No one wants to spend too much time dwelling on the many “what-ifs” that could happen. But what if something occurs? Have you and your family went over any portion of what to do if something happens?
What would you or your child do if you were on vacation and needed to call 9-1-1? What if you were camping at a lake or riverside? What if you were in the middle of the lake or floating down the river? What if you were visiting family in another town, state or country? Are your children spending any amount of time with grandparents. Do they know the address if an emergency arises? What if grandma is not able to talk or is unconscious, would your child be able to find the address somewhere in the house?
What would the answer be to the dispatcher’s question “9-1-1, Where is your emergency?”
Let’s take a routine float trip for example:
This is the first year that Savannah, who just turned seven, gets to sit on her own kayak during the trip. Halfway through, the river gets crowded and all floaters filter through a narrow spot. As the floaters start to separate and get back with their groups you notice Savannah is not in sight yet. Panic sets in and parent instincts are in gear at a high pace. Savannah is also starting to realize that she is not near her family anymore and is starting to paddle with panic. She paddles in circles trying to see anyone she recognizes without prevail. She becomes so scared she just stops at the gravel bar. A stranger comes up to her just to make sure she is OK. After a few minutes, there are many strangers that have stopped, trying to make her comfortable, but nothing is helping. Meanwhile you are trying to make your way back up the river to see if you can find her. However, by now there is at least one mile of water between you and her. Savannah is too scared to answer or say much to these strangers as she is crying. As others are trying to get her parents’ names or any information from her, another calls 9-1-1. Dispatch is relaying questions through the stranger to Savannah. Questions such as her name, parents’ names, or anyone else she was floating with. Dispatch asks if she knows where she was floating from? No, Savannah did not know. How about where are you floating to? All Savannah knew was that they were going to go by the hospital and have lunch there.
While talking with dispatch there was yelling in the background. The stranger advised the dispatcher that Savannah’s dad had been sending word as he was paddling upriver looking for her. Each group that heard it was yelling back up to help spread the word. Dispatch stayed on the phone with the stranger and Savannah until dad made it to her. This had a happy ending, and all had a great lunch later. The hospital that Savannah was referencing was the Welch Hospital on the Current River. This very scenario or variation of it happens often each year, some with not as welcoming outcomes.
Will you be traveling abroad? Does your family know the number to dial for an emergency in other countries? 9-1-1 is not universal throughout the world. In Mexico and Canada 9-1-1 is the emergency number. However, many countries have multiple numbers or just a local number depending on the emergency that is occurring.
Below are a few examples.
England: 1-1-2 or 9-9-9
Brazil: 1-9-0, but if you dial 9-1-1 it should redirect your call.
Australia: Cellphones is 1-1-2, landlines is 0-0-0.
China: 1-2-0, 1-1-9, 1-1-0, 1-2-2, depending on the emergency.
Madagascar: local numbers
Most days we don’t want to think or talk about such needed things. However, the need is prominent as many scenarios play out each day in real life. Having open-family decisions can help not only someone in your family but possibly someone you encounter. When going over family plans add the travel and visitation plans. While discussing information, be direct and make sure they are involved even the littlest one. Savannah’s family did not sit the family down to talk about the trip because they had been making this float for many years. But it occurred to them they never had a direct conversation with the kids. It was always assumed that they knew. But the only thing that the kids knew was that it was a great family outing not worrying about where they were going. A quick overview with Savannah that the family would be floating on the Current River, starting at Cedar Grove and ending at Akers with the stop at the Welch Hospital, may have helped. She may not have remembered all in that order but would be able to remember the main parts. Those parts would have been important if dad had not been able to make it back up stream so quickly.
Even though the above scenario did not take place inside of Texas County, there have been similar calls that have rolled over to Texas County dispatch from other counties. A cellphone signal will bounce until it finds the closest available tower. Sometimes that will send it to another county. This has no difference on the assistance one will receive. Dispatch will still ask for your location and emergency information. If possible, the call will be transferred to the correct county or agency. If it is not possible to transfer the call, no dispatch center will ignore the emergency, and will do all that is possible to get assistance to the scene.
On behalf of all at Texas County 9-1-1, we hope you have a safe, enjoyable summer.
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.