Sometimes I am worried that I come across as a little preachy…and I don’t mean to….I am mearly trying to share my experiences as a 911 operator with you…things that could possibly have an impact on your life…as a side note, I think this comes from my dad…he spent many hours that he worked at Cargill…thinking…thinking and preparing…then he would share with me things…always preparing me for life’s problems…this is probably a personality trait that led me to become a 911 dispatcher…anyway

Tonight I started receiving 911 calls at 0444 about an accident…the first caller and I had a language barrier and I transferred him up to Des Moines State Radio because from what he was telling me, it sounded like the accident may be in one of our adjoining counties…the second caller confirmed he was in the next county up but my gut was not feeling good about it because his 911 call was tracking about 5 miles south of where he said he was which would be in my county…I decided to go ahead and dispatch the deputy that way just in case…a few minutes later he called back advising he was indeed at the 2mm which is in my county and he had two people injured in a veh rollover – it was on its top…Blah Blah Blah – get everyone enroute – notify state patrol it’s probably here…page a couple of times for personnel…it’s the middle of the night – I don’t know how these volunteers get it the first time…anyway…everyone enroute…ambulance arrives, trooper arrives – it’s now 0513 almost 30 minutes after the initial call.

The lesson to be learned here – and trust me – when I’m traveling, I don’t know half the time where I am…but I try to pay attention every now and then just because I know how important it is….and that is today’s lesson.  In unfamiliar territory – especially out on the highway – every now and then center yourself and figure out where you are…just in case…just in case you have to be able to tell someone where you are – what highway, what direction you are going, milemarker estimates are wonderful.  Just in case….

Until next time…..