Sunday, January 19, 2020

Is it like the TV show 9-1-1?

Is it like the TV show 9-1-1?

On the horizon of the 9-1-1 spin off, 9-1-1 Lone Star, the question comes up about how realistic the show is to my job.


The first season with Connie Britton playing Abby hooked me.  It was like watching the real life of my own center's personal stories.  For the most part many women in my center wear the same shoes like Abby by being the provider for their families. Their role can be in the capacity of taking care of their children, an aging parent or even other family members.  


To keep all of this in perspective it's important to remember the show is for entertainment value and certainly there is plenty.  Please know we will not be giving out tracheotomy instructions on the phone to be performed in the middle of the restaurant like Abby did to Buck during the Valentines Day episode, but we have to agree it had us on the edge of our seats hoping Buck would be okay.  Dispatchers dating field personnel happens on many occasions and sometimes those dates lead to marriages.  Even relationships within the center are not uncommon.   


 When Jennifer Love Hewitt came on as Maddie, the connection dynamic changed for me. She's more of a rebel dispatcher who strays away from protocol. Guess we should not expect much different since Buck, played by Oliver Stark, is her brother.  She's already dealing with a high stress life and walks into another high stress job.  After all she has been through, taking a break from the emergency medical field would not be a bad idea.  I think as dispatchers we have all ran off to help people in the heat of the moment during our time off however, I have not known anyone personally who ran off outside of the center to help someone they took a call from. No matter how small or large of a part we play, it is instilled in us all from day one of training to "just do something".

Beyond the love connections, when the center is running as a well oiled machine there is flexibility with days off,  long vacations are available, and the ability to attend important family events is an option.  In addition I get to bask in those great calls when I know I have made an impact like delivering a baby or calming someone down just enough to aid them step by step through life saving procedures.


Now I don't want to paint it all in a sunny light, because just as sunny as it can be there will be gloomy days too, like the character Maddie has experienced.


The stresses of trying to juggle the job and a personal life do exist. Not being able to spend special days and holidays with your family happens too.  Canceling plans because you have been recalled to work on your off day is a reality.  Being married or having a family at home can cause an issue on the days you're told "sorry you're not going home after your shift because six people have called out."     Try juggling that scenario with kids at the last minute.  You certainly need a support system to be available for those just in case days.  When a huge fire breaks out or any other natural disaster, be prepared to have a continuous sleep over and/or work with no days off until further notice.


Overall the job is not for everyone but the ones who it is for, I think we know there are ways we can improve our work environment but for the most part our pros outweigh the cons.


"Operator 43 what is your location?"

"I am on the freeway driving, and my husband is having chest pain."
"Okay I need you to safely pullover so we can find you. Which direction are you headed and what was the exit you last saw?"
"I'm too scared to pullover, I think I should drive straight to the hospital. He is in pain!"
"Yes, this is a scary situation and I'm here to help you through it, but you need to pull over at the next exit so we can find you."
"Okay, I'm just so nervous!  We were driving to our grandchild's graduation.  I don't think we are going to make it"
"Ma'am the paramedics and doctors will do their best. But I need you to pull over so I can get help to you."


At this point I know you're wondering have I sent the paramedics? 

This is where technology can help or fail.  There are many variables which come into play.  What type of phone you have, how the call was transferred to me and what type of signal the cell tower has.  So yes I can pinpoint you but sometimes if you're in an obstructed area the mapping is not accurate.  You moving on a freeway especially one going through hills and mountains, can distort the accuracy and I really do not know where you are.   In this case my map gave me an approximate location and I had dispatched the closet units, but with her continuing to drive, she's getting further ahead of the units en route.  

"Hunny I'm going to pull over so they can  help you okay?  Hunny?  HUNNY!!!  OH MY GOD!!! HUNNY! HUNNY!"

"Ma'am what's wrong?"
"I don't think he's breathing!  HUNNY!!"
"Ma'am I NEED you to pull over now! Pull over and tell me the last sign you saw."
"Okay the sign says exit 57"
"Perfect. Now listen to me step by step pull the car over safely put it in park. Turn on the hazard lights. Is the phone connected to Bluetooth?"
"Yes."
 "Don't turn off the car all the way so you can still hear me through the Bluetooth.  I want you to tell me can you feel air coming out of his nose and mouth?  Do you feel the chest and stomach rising?"
"NO! NO! nothing!"
"Okay listen get out of the car safely and quickly and go to the passenger door."
"Okay I'm here! Where are they!?!  What do I do?"
"Ma'am I want you to pull his legs out of the car and quickly pull him down to the ground.
"I Can't!  He's too heavy!"
"Ma'am once you pull his legs out, the top of the body will be easier to pull down. Come on, do this quickly"
"But the ground is dirty!"
"Ma'am he's not breathing, we won't worry about him getting dirty right now, we can clean him up later."
"Okay, okay!  I got him to the ground."
"Is he on his back?"
"Yes!"
"Okay we're going to start CPR. I want you to take your hand and put it on top of his chest between the nipples placing your other hand on top of the first.  Holding your arms stiff and straight you're going to press down on the chest hard and fast at least two inches deep. I will start to count for you to keep the rhythm."
"I know! I know!  ah ah ah ah stayin' alive! Right?"
"Yes ma'am if you want to use that beat it works.  I will count with you."
"OMG!  Hunny you can't die on me!  You can't!"
"Ma'am please concentrate on the compression's for me okay? Hard and fast let's keep going!"
"I think I hear them!  I think I do!"
"Yes ma'am they are not far.  Keep going don't stop until they get to you."
"Oh my GOD they are here!"
"Thank you ma'am you did such a great job."


As I hear the paramedics say "Ma'am we're going to take over now.  Tell me what medical problems does he have? " I disconnect the phone. 

Even though I just finished drying my sad eyes, I had to find
 a smile and happiness to share in the moment.
I wished the couple on the freeway could experience
the same. 

That was my last call for the shift. I knew this day was a day I would not miss one of the important family events.  As I drove home knowing I was headed to a graduation too, I could not help but let the tears stream down my face.  It was bad enough the lady had to give her husband CPR on the side of the freeway but the part that made me cry was thinking I won't know what happened to him.  I thought about how that lady would call her kids and say hey we won't make it to the graduation.  Did she wait until she got to the hospital to make the call?  Did she wait until after the graduation so her own kids would not race to the hospital and miss the graduation of their child? Or even the graduate, did they refuse to stay for their ceremony because their grandpa was having an emergency that could be fatal?


I don't know.  I never know.  The outcomes are unknown for me. It's always the idea of move on..."next caller please".