tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68161899454772102652024-03-20T00:29:27.528-07:00Only BarbOnlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-84270937198639985722020-11-28T19:40:00.000-08:002020-11-28T19:40:59.198-08:00<p><b>Acceptance and delivery have always been what I have
struggled with in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven't
published an entry in a while because I felt like if I talk about only me, I
would find out my readers are not really interested in "Only Barb" as
a person but rather as the superhero a.k.a the 9-1-1 dispatcher with juicy
calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized this was somewhat true
as a result of my June 2nd post </b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6816189945477210265/1000941299735082081"><span style="color: #1155cc;">https://onlybarb.blogspot.com/2020/04/if-you-have-been-following-my-blog-then.html</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>I saw that the post was not received as well as many of
my others but I also realized once again how powerful the mind can be. When you
think about something and put energy behind it, the degree of energy you give
is what you will get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I went into it
worried about what people were thinking and now I realized my confidence was
not there and in turn I didn't push the entry as I did with the others. So
world, I want you to know, yes you will get my 9-1-1 stories and in addition
you'll get stories about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now that
I have said this publicly I feel like I am comfortable moving forward with
sharing my world with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>It's hard not to think about what people may think of
you. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>Social media can either be brutal or it can be a great
companion. I can't imagine what having social media would have been like when I
was younger. I did some pretty dumb things at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><b>Is there a level to "dumb" things
so to speak? Everything you do even down to what you wear had the potential to
be a topic on people's posts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>When I was in the 5th grade, my older sister used to wear
white t-shirts and jeans to school every day. She was in High school and I was
in elementary, so to me it seemed like it was the "cool" thing to
wear. The problem here was she was not the cool student and her fashion choices
were not fashion-forward. Of course at the time I had no idea. Later in life at
my 20<sup>th</sup> year high school reunion I found out that people in school
thought I wore the same white t-shirt every day. They said some would talk
about me being poor and wearing a dirty t-shirt. Kids would talk about me aloud
about other things so some I was aware of but perhaps if social media was there
then, I would have reacted differently about things because it would be a
larger platform of gossip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow I
grew up with a way to shrug things off including the things I actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">did</i> hear about myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly adopted the philosophy of
"sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt
me."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really stuck to it all my
life and no matter what was said to me I'd shake it off and ignore it. Well not
until recently when I found out what happens to those names that supposedly
never would hurt me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I’m not sure if you can tell but I am aspiring to be a
published writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a life story
that is nothing short of a good ol' Lifetime network movie. I've seen a lot of
ups and downs in my life and as you take this journey with me you'll learn more
about them. I now realize the amount of trauma I've been through is probably
more than the average person. I'm okay with that as it makes me who I am today.
In January, at work, there were two calls that pushed me to the edge of a
mental breakdown. I knew I was at a pivotal point and if I did not seek help,
it would literally break me forever.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>9-1-1 what is your emergency? <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>Operator 43 is not good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am Operator 43.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlItlufWQW6cK63gWz2IER4gpfvVZEURsaMH087sjtYu-XycUBF6cZ3N1kB7O6FGPLQGOq7gXZSBFG5EEF1xIS_RjgdVgHmJ8EoujvqyjxqC08pzJ9__oAUVz8EBG4sBklzLQcqHREjo/s2048/PhotoGrid_1606616532658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlItlufWQW6cK63gWz2IER4gpfvVZEURsaMH087sjtYu-XycUBF6cZ3N1kB7O6FGPLQGOq7gXZSBFG5EEF1xIS_RjgdVgHmJ8EoujvqyjxqC08pzJ9__oAUVz8EBG4sBklzLQcqHREjo/s320/PhotoGrid_1606616532658.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />These are the faces many people<br />think depression looks like</span></b><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>I was determined to seek help from a therapist but the
bad part was where do I go to find one? I was in such a funk finding a good
match was an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend stepped in
and found one for me and vetted through them to make sure the person had the
practice to suit my needs. My first encounter was me not really understanding
how the process goes outside of the television show scenario of laying on a
couch. I politely explained I had no idea what I was to do and I was new to
this and asked if she was okay with me throwing up on her with my words and she
obliged.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>During a session of sharing my life timeline, I had an
epiphany and it made me realize that I was not there solely because of my
stressful 9-1-1 job but because of something else. This other thing that had
led me to therapy was the years of me allowing the sticks and stones to hurt me.
I realized then that I had been stacking the names and mean words in the
closet. </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>If that is your philosophy just </b><b>STOP IT NOW. </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>It will haunt you
later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a kid, the television was
filled with Public Service Announcements (PSA's) commercials. I vividly
remember one where there was a parent yelling at a kid saying you're so dumb
and stupid. The child would be sad and cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought to myself <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why</i> would
anyone believe that about themselves? Just go above and beyond to erase that stereotype
and prove them wrong. Well as I sat in therapy shy of being 41, I had this
epiphany. My issues, the reason why I was there was because about 36 years
before, my sister and I with a 9 year difference would argue a lot. I'm sure
you can imagine how a 4 and 13 year old got along. So in the middle of an
argument, my mother told me you should be nice to your sister. She was the one
who wanted to bring you home. I had planned to leave you there at the hospital
for adoption but she insisted you come with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I know many of you are pulling out your gavel and throwing judgment
at my mom and just so you know, I finally did that day in therapy too. Don't
tell a kid something like that but in her defense, I will say she did it for a
reason and probably saw it as a positive way to fix the bickering between me
and my sister. I could see what she was trying to do but it was an outright
fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think parents can agree since
there is no type of manual for these things, oftentimes things won't be
perfect. I never knew that would stick with me but I sure did find out in
therapy that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p>So now, I have become the classic case of the person who
says: </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>"My therapist told me...</b><b>" or "I was talking to my
therapist…"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>I promise you, my therapist has become what a comma can do
to a sentence. I once saw this meme that said…</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>"Let's eat grandpa vs Let's eat, grandpa" so the
comma changed the entire meaning of it all and that's what my therapist did for
me. Therapy has become the comma in my life. Commas are important too as you can see. All
of the words and explanations as to what is for a lack of better words "wrong
with me" are there. But in my world alone I have a problem placing the
words in the right order whereas my therapist has the gift and training to help
me think for myself and unscramble the words the proper way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>At work, I talk to a lot of people who seem to be without
commas and for what reason? I can only speculate. I know there are many
instances in which I may not have all views of their lives but from my
experience from talking to them for 14 years now the calls typically all go the
same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The common factors are they
don't have support, or the support that is available is out of their reach or they
may not have the means or know how to get the help. It's sad sometimes because
there are a lot of people to whom I speak to who are suffering from mental
health struggles ranging from schizophrenia to depression. These are real
people with real scenarios and that is why if you have any doubt about it, depression
is real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Caller: This is not an emergency but...</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Let me say this now...it may not be said or even felt over
the phone but when you call and say "This is not an emergency
but..."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first thought and I'm
sure many other dispatchers ask themselves THEN WHY ARE YOU CALLING 9-1-1?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But of course we don't ask that or make you
feel that way. The flip side to this is that you may get the caller that says I
have chest pain; I don't know if it's that serious, what do you think I should
do? Upon further review, I find out they have chest pain, sweating and history
of high blood pressure. Why are you questioning this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is
absolutely</i> an emergency. Then you have the other caller who will say
something like I am stuck behind the gate at the storage facility. The sign
says it closes at 7 and when I look at the clock and it says 7:03. They may
then say something like oh it's just a couple of minutes after 7, I had no idea
it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> would lock on time. Well
it's now 7:03 but we will come and assist. Please abide by the sign next
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Then you get the call for help...prevention help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one case, a father called and he sounded exhausted,
apparently it was from trying to find some resources. He said, this is not an
emergency, but once I found out his reasoning I was not bothered by his
statement any longer. He tried to find some help for his daughter who was
suicidal. Although she was having a good day today, she had previously tried to
end her life twice before. The end of it all was the same, just like I was
unable to find the proper therapist for myself; I knew exactly how helpless he
felt for his daughter. His hands were tied and he was doing all he could to
help and in turn was asking for help. The saddest part was that I had nothing
to offer him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no protocols or
special numbers for me to give him in such a situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>"Operator 43 what is your emergency?”</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b> "I don't know if this is an emergency but I don't want
it to turn into one. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">AM</i> operator 43
and I need help."<o:p> </o:p> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihniqNLS4-F1T1bYa_LUNUv3kJwFkCJuMJy5MWI-6z8dqzRKndWPJiWVXRXSn_XhLP7qGJBXpAW0N1CuxkxI2w3g6UepwFdx83n05D0ftN6P9Y1JZR21SAvWeDWd4_9bKwve4CV2oKxfc/s2048/PhotoGrid_1606616427928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihniqNLS4-F1T1bYa_LUNUv3kJwFkCJuMJy5MWI-6z8dqzRKndWPJiWVXRXSn_XhLP7qGJBXpAW0N1CuxkxI2w3g6UepwFdx83n05D0ftN6P9Y1JZR21SAvWeDWd4_9bKwve4CV2oKxfc/s320/PhotoGrid_1606616427928.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />These are actual faces of depression <br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Where I am now, and in my time of need, I have resources
available to me, however it came with caution and so much so that I didn't feel
comfortable using the resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is a poster at work with a number to call but there are too many unanswered questions
about what the person on the other end is going to do or what they can do to
help. Mental health has become more of a talked about topic but in previous years
passed it became something that was hushed. If you are suffering from
depression, bipolar syndrome, schizophrenia, regardless of how mild or severe the
case may be, people just learn to say "you are crazy.” We need to all
learn to be more supportive and take note when people are having struggles of
sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SUPPORT is the keyword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, the resources seem to be scarce,
and there have to be more ways to be able to help while making people feel
comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p> </o:p> </b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>What is the answer to better mental health? I think
early education is an answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we're
taught earlier that we all have the potential of having a breaking point then
it won't be as shocking when it happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe more of us can recognize ourselves in others and as such if we see
it, we can intervene and provide help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mental
health awareness needs to start early bottom line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one knows their breaking point. I
sometimes wonder what would break me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
recently found out where the start was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Depression moved in my life and I was really trying to evict it. It has
been difficult but I am grateful I am working through it with my
therapist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even some people close to me I hear the doubt or judgment about my choice of using a therapist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just know I felt like that caller "I
don't know if this is an emergency but..."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From my superhero side had someone told me they were feeling like I
feel, I would try and do any and everything in my power to help them. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>I'm so thankful that I was able to have a supportive
friend to help me through it all. During this time especially I know many of us may feel alone because in fact we are because of social distancing. </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>A friend of mine said "The longer I live, the more I realize that humans are, simply, messes. Beautiful messes, but messes in need of help, nonetheless." </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>So now we all must find our help when we are in the mess. So if you are feeling down and need some help
please reach out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that poster at work
isn't the place you want to start then start somewhere else. Don't be ashamed.
If you want to reach out to me, please do so because I'm a resource. I have
become involved with a really cool twitter community who is very supportive
with mental wellbeing. The best part about them, they are easy to relate to and they're open enough to share when they've had a rough day too. I welcome all the positive thoughts out there in the twitterverse. It's nice to know they're available when you feel the need.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>I won't keep my positive twitter community to myself, please take a look at their profiles. They are both friendly and inspiring.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>@jamingeorge04<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in;"><b>@SaraJaneKehler<o:p></o:p></b></p><br />Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-89865657982172422812020-06-28T07:55:00.000-07:002020-06-28T07:55:50.213-07:00The call of Grace<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">I
thought my life was too busy prior to the “safe at home” world we live in. One
thing </b></font></span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">I have realized, even with more free time on my hands is that I have
fallen into some weird slump of laziness. Excuse after excuse you can say, is
something I have come up with to not do what I ought to do. First, there was
not enough time and now there's "too much" time. Is that even such a
thing? So during this new normal of social distancing and staying at home, I
have found myself making a life on twitter and clearing my DVR. I have all
these projects and writings I want to finish but now I just sloth around even
more. Bleh!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
<br />
Finally, I watched the season finale of "9-1-1 Lone Star" and I want to again
applaud Tim Minear and his writing team for a job well done at making the
stories of 9-1-1 realistic with an entertaining twist. I can tell you stories
all day but with the twist of Hollywood magic, of course, they all of a sudden are
that much more interesting. I've come clean with my opinion before, I do
politely give the raised eyebrow with some of the technical things, but even
for me the show is entertaining enough to make me feel like it's believable.<br />
<br />
Now moving on to the nitty-gritty of the episode, you may think the 9-1-1
dispatcher Grace getting the call from the space station is far-fetched. Believe
it or not in reality that could really happen...I think. Don't get me wrong I'm
not an expert on phone and radio communications but I'm sure one of my radio
head colleagues could totally elaborate on that subject but come on, part of
the purpose of my blog is to let you live through my eyes while I share the
real-life, whether 9-1-1 or random stuff but certainly it is not to put you to
sleep with propeller head information. <br />
<br />
So, I've gotten a call misrouted all the way from Italy once. You can thank the
Voice over Internet provider (VOIP) numbers for this. Often, we get
calls from other states because the company’s main office may be in my state,
yet the office they are calling from is in another and all the extension lines
they're using are from the main office. In another instance, sometimes people
move and because paperwork moves at snail mail speed, the phone line
information is not updated in a timely manner, and when you dial 9-1-1, you're
stuck talking to me and then yes it's my job to figure out which dispatch
center I need to route you to. Once again, another reason why we ask you to
verify your address. Believe it or not, I've been cursed at over these things.
I recall a person telling me I was stupid and to use my screen to figure out
the address. Okay fine. I dispatch the units to the location you say is on my
screen, well guess what? 8 minutes into the call, the caller is yelling at me, “WHY
ARE THEY NOT FUCKING HERE YET!?”<br />
<br />
“Ma'am, may I confirm your address?” I asked.</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">“The fucking information is on the screen.”</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">"Yes, ma'am, they are on their way to 1234 Main Street.”</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">*caller gasps* “uh no, no oh my gosh! I moved 6 months ago!”</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">“Okay ma'am, can I have your current location please?”</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">“4321 First Street.” The caller says.<br />
<br />
“Okay ma'am, please give me a moment while I connect us with your correct
department.”<br />
<br />
And of course the process starts all over again and precious time was wasted. Thank goodness it's not every call but people certainly get quite upset with
all the “stupid ass questions” we ask, like what is your address?<br />
<br />
The character 9-1-1 dispatcher Grace was on the line with an astronaut who knew
he was dying and she obliged by his wishes and connected him to his wife. He so
affectionately said his last words and had laughs with his young daughter. It
was a heartfelt exchange where you saw Grace's pain in her eyes and before the
episode ended she was breaking down in tears. I felt Grace's pain when I saw
the defeat she was feeling and how she felt she needed to hold it together while
sitting at the phone console.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>As
the phone disconnected and the astronaut took his last breath, I was taken back
to the emotion I have experienced many times during my 14-year tenure, and
because I could feel it, that alone is something I consider great writing.<br />
<br />
<br />
Operator 43, what is your emergency?<br /></b></font><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">*breathing heavily with gasps and fumbling noises.*</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"I can't - I can't - I can't breathe!"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"Sir, I don't want you to talk more than necessary but I do need your address. You're calling me from your cell phone"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
**It's important to take note at this time because there was no accurate
cellphone detection available, so he had to tell me where he was**<o:p></o:p></b></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font face="helvetica"><b>*man
slowly blurts out address with exhaustion*</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>"Sir, I hear a lot of noise in your background, please I need you to sit
down and breath in slowly through your nose and out of your mouth."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"ast..asthma!"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"Ok sir just tell me yes or no, did you use your inhaler?"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"All, all gone"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"Okay sir, I have help on the way to you please concentrate on
breathing."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
*hears thud*</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"Call my, my wife! she, she's next door! inhaler!"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"Sir, please save your breath, help will be there soon."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>*slowly gives me his wife's phone number.*</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
"Okay sir, I'm calling your wife."<br />
<br />
I didn’t connect the call with him immediately, because often times when you
make a call to a loved one and the patient is on the phone they will blurt out
something. This could then cause the loved one to panic and your call is taken
over mostly by cries or screams and you can never gain control back. So instead,
I choose to announce myself and give a small detail. <o:p></o:p></b></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>“Ma'am
this is 911, we do have help on the way to your residence for your husband who
is having a medical emergency. I am going to connect us but please be assured
help is coming.” However, in this case the phone rings and she never picks up.
I disconnect her line and go back to the patient.<br />
<br />
"Sir, she did not pick up."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
"Unblock number! She doesn't pick up blocked numbers."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
"Sir, I have no way of unblocking the number."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
"Please try again"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
*Clicks back over and attempts a call. No answer.*</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
I come back to the line and he is still breathing.</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
"She, she has inhaler! mine is...is empty."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.5;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 1.5;"><b style="line-height: 1.5;">
"Sir, keep breathing."<br />
<br />
I hear sirens in the background. His breaths are so shallow and slow.<br />
<br />
"Tell her...tell her I love her."</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>I hear the knocks at the door. I advise the radio dispatcher to tell the units
the patient is down and can't get to the door and to break in. The phone drops.
No breaths.<br />
<br />
"Sir! I need you to breathe with me!"</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>
I hear a deep wheezing gurgle, then one last gurgle.</b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">I hear the medics: "Sir! Sir, can you hear me?"</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b><br />
I know he can't hear them, he's gone. The sound of a person's last breath is
something you will never forget. I sit there sad; my next caller is in my ear
and needs my full attention. I give them all I got. I disconnect from the next
caller and watch my status screen from the previous call. The medics did not
transport the patient and that's my confirmation that he did not make it. He
died in his home with his wife next door.<o:p></o:p></b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b><br /></b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxoGKHfVdlPvp8GdaHCQ71CgO4yRbxoRA8Zi96r4Jrc0i0omHq6nHE8wNnHA1rri5bkQnlvjrTxjgrBHoZeoy51n4M9GJQz9iAAfzOZEd5Mn1SvUSsnShJ6Sqkqfv4UYPaXBQcXZwRuo/s2533/PhotoGrid_1593163271100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxoGKHfVdlPvp8GdaHCQ71CgO4yRbxoRA8Zi96r4Jrc0i0omHq6nHE8wNnHA1rri5bkQnlvjrTxjgrBHoZeoy51n4M9GJQz9iAAfzOZEd5Mn1SvUSsnShJ6Sqkqfv4UYPaXBQcXZwRuo/s320/PhotoGrid_1593163271100.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some days are difficult.<br />Here I was holding my breath to hold back my tears. <br />Superheros don't cry.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b><br /></b></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Even
though this particular call was earlier in my career, when I get calls like
that now, those are the times I really sit back and remove myself from the job
and I realize what I actually do for a living. While I'm sad about the
situation, I think about all the people I was able to save, and had I not been
there the outcome could have been dismal. After the quick reality check, I'm
typically able to go on without a fuss or worry. I will admit, each year is
getting more challenging to be able to pick myself up and keep going, but for
now, I'm going to iron my superhero cape and put it back on.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><font face="helvetica"><b>Operator
43, what is your emergency? </b></font><font face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p>Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-71349465191960216832020-06-02T00:48:00.001-07:002020-06-02T00:48:38.060-07:00Just PICTURE Paradise <div style="line-height: 2;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">If you have been following my blog, then you know I fell into a format of sorts where I share a personal story and then it sequels to a relevant 9-1-1 call. In the past few weeks, I have had time to write and I stacked up a few posts to be consistent. The only problem with this is the fact that the posts all had some sort of sad tune to them. Although I know you all appreciate the reality of my 9-1-1 world, I just feel like some hope is something I should share. Today's post was inspired by a twitter conversation with my twitter friend @SaraJaneKehler. Check her out at <a href="https://saralivingfree.com/">www.Saralivingfree.com</a> I know it may sound weird to have a friend you have never met in person but I have some really supportive people in the twitterverse. </font></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">This is especially so now that practically the entire world has been practicing some sort of social distancing. The World Wide Web has created some great platforms for nurturing new friendships. The writing community on twitter has a really good support system for people like me who are venturing out into the world with their passion for storytelling.</font></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><font size="2" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;"> When I began this job, I was really behind financially. A little over a year in and I was still trying to catch up and I found this apartment I wanted to rent. The problem was at the time the owners wanted a USD 2500 deposit that I did not have and they wanted USD 1200 a month.1200 was above my comfort zone and I was honest about it. The apartment was really perfect and I was sad about not being able to rent it. I eventually got a phone call from the owners and they asked me what my plans were for a place to stay since I was looking. I told them I would just find a place on "Apartment Row" in an adjacent city for 925 a month. After a discussion and another phone call, they said they noticed I had a good government job and would like to offer the place at 925. I took it but told them I would not be able to move in on the first as I would not have the 2500 until the 15th. It was a total fib. I started to think of what I could do to get the money together <i>without </i>borrowing. </font></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font style="line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">At work, a colleague needed some coverage for some days but didn't want to use vacation time, instead she agreed to pay cash for the days she needed covered. I agreed to work multiple days throughout the year since I knew I would need the extra cash to catch up. I also had this new rent payment and needed items for my place. I never thought she would give me a lump sum before working the days, but that was exactly what she did. So the lump sum plus what I had left in my bank account paid for my deposit.<br /></font><br /><font face="times new roman, serif"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">After my deposit was paid it was going to be a long stretch until the next payday since all my regular bills were due and I had to pay all the deposits at the apartment to get electricity and gas turned on. There I was happy in my empty place with my mattress on the floor, just grateful to have a place of my own which I could call home.</font><font face="times new roman, serif" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></font></font></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I had a few necessities but not all. I needed some cleaning supplies and a pot to cook in so I headed to <i style="line-height: 2;">99 Cents only store</i> and then to the <i style="line-height: 2;">Goodwill second hand store</i>. At the 99 Cents only store, I found a glass that had happy faces all over it. It just made me happy and although it was not in my budget even at 99 cents, I bought it because I've always been one to put my happiness above all. Once I arrived at the Goodwill store, I grabbed the pot I needed and as I was headed to the register I found the most amazing picture. It was a framed picture of a white sand beach. Many people would call it a beach paradise. I had exactly enough money for the picture but not both the picture and the pot. I had to make choice. The choice was the picture and again my happiness won. I went home and hung it in my bathroom above my tub. It was my personal vision board and I just absolutely knew that every day I would look at the picture and be happy to dream about going to that beach one day. </font></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="line-height: 2; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody style="line-height: 2;"><tr style="line-height: 2;"><td style="line-height: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4214" data-original-width="2809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLG1z2CyPHt_m9-wLzBZsqF_WYKz3IM4B-IBLOAFDa0JN8ze91RKXxj4xA-3svi34rNjyDIlNeSMgsTA7w8gihq9sANo7X2DnCoTH8X7pZAnFtLKoge7aYsZAvQBpEqYAJELqIwjxgyc/w266-h400/beach+blog.jpg" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></font></span></td></tr><tr style="line-height: 2;"><td class="tr-caption" style="line-height: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">My beach paradise above hangs above<br /> my bathtub<br /><br /></font></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">As time went on, I would often think about making it to the beach in the picture. One day, my friends called me and said they had a surprise for me. They made a deposit for them and me to go on a cruise. Everyone knows I am the vacation planner, so for me to sit back and let them plan it all was something huge. Honestly, I put no effort in even discussing the planning because I had a feeling they would all flake before it was time to go. I have planned so many trips which ended up with me going solo so I was used to the disappointment of them not going. Time went on and everyone kept up with their deposits and we eventually set sail.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">Days in on the cruise, our next destination was a small Bahamian island called Half Moon Cay. It's owned by the cruise lines so it's one hundred percent private and the only way there, is by boat. There isn't even a dock for the cruise ship; it drops anchor in the middle of the ocean and boats transport people to and from the ship. As the ship got closer to land, all I could do was cry. What was in front of me was the picture in my bathroom. It looked identical! Here I am in my swimsuit boohooing and my friends don't understand what is going on. Through my mumbling tears, I tell them I will explain later. Seeing the replica of my bathroom picture was just reinforcement that dreams do come true! I was touched by my experience I even wrote a poem about it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">Just Picture Paradise</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">Once upon a time I was down and out.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">Broke and bare and wanted to pout.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I went to the Goodwill and didn't have much money,<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">but I was in my new apartment with no plates and pans<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">and I needed some things so I wouldn't have to eat with my hands.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;"><br /></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I walked past this really great picture,</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">of a beach with all white sand.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I stood and stared at the picture and said one day<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I wanna lay in that blue water and enjoy the breeze.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I needed inspiration because I didn't have a lot.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">Only had money to buy the picture or the pot.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;"> </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I chose the picture instead.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I knew if I bought the picture I would dream about it much.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">And one day I would have lots of good luck.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">One day when things in my life were a lot better,<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I sailed on the ocean blue and went far far away.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">Then we approached the dock and there was Half Moon Cay.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;"> </font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I recognized this place at sight.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">I knew it because I had seen it every day.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">The picture I bought at the goodwill<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">really did give me some goodwill in a major way.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">It kept me thinking about the day I would be able to go to paradise and lay.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">From that day on I knew that dreams come true<o:p></o:p></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">as I laid in the sand and swam in the beautiful ocean blue</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 2; text-align: center;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj453gXWETTeaIYyRjhue1upko15B_PJScdZBCBiHa6-6sG3PnBGfRjl48TiS4wlw_FXYFDyFzrhBq8-8j1x2b1CmsCe2a9MNKOP_3qCMxmANO_HIQ8dX22zYDLW3bzpyNkQJBfMqu6cO4/" style="line-height: 2; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1065" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj453gXWETTeaIYyRjhue1upko15B_PJScdZBCBiHa6-6sG3PnBGfRjl48TiS4wlw_FXYFDyFzrhBq8-8j1x2b1CmsCe2a9MNKOP_3qCMxmANO_HIQ8dX22zYDLW3bzpyNkQJBfMqu6cO4/w346-h400/smile+hmc.jpg" title="My happy place" width="346" /></a></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 2; text-align: center;">My happy place</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;">And yes, the picture still hangs over my bathtub as a reminder to keep dreaming. So, as we are going through these difficult times due to the pandemic and war on social injustice I want you all to visualize a better future. It may not happen overnight but one thing I can tell you is that it will happen perfectly when the time is right.</font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;"><br /></font></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 2;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZBRz9xc1N__BiuBmYCRnJMBii1cjhkvj1Yslk75ypDCvqjfbhUJX-QutuhThahiHgbNN4QlH1CFEC_-3MLQX2KpEYUzocIj0f-KuqwtTB5VXpOzeE2Z5T-EhTY219HGCeRfutYSo0qI/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2092" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZBRz9xc1N__BiuBmYCRnJMBii1cjhkvj1Yslk75ypDCvqjfbhUJX-QutuhThahiHgbNN4QlH1CFEC_-3MLQX2KpEYUzocIj0f-KuqwtTB5VXpOzeE2Z5T-EhTY219HGCeRfutYSo0qI/w330-h640/hmc.jpg" width="330" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All smiles in the beautiful blue sea</div><font face="helvetica" style="line-height: 2;"><br /></font><p></p></div><div style="line-height: 2;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></div>
Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-59858671064270199042020-04-18T04:30:00.000-07:002020-04-18T04:30:22.580-07:009-1-1 is my life <br />
<h3 style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">My
intentions were never for my blog to be about my life as a 9-1-1 dispatcher,
although it can certainly be said that 9-1-1 is my life. For this post, I have
chosen to switch it up and give you a little more of "Only Barb". I
remember a time when being human and making a mistake so to speak was just
that. If you hurt someone’s feelings, they would speak up and tell you and then
you would apologize and life goes on. However, the case is very much different
now, if you hurt someone’s feelings you're sent to the Human Resources
department with some sort of harassment claim. If you're like me, then you are
stuck in the middle of two generations. The generations of speaking up and
solving the problem and the new system of ‘go tell the boss someone is
bothering you’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">**Disclaimer**</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">It
is crucial to say that even when people were more straightforward with each
other there were still some who were shy and needed assistance to speak up for
themselves because they could not do it on their own. I am not against this in
any way. Bullying and any part of being unkind is just wrong to me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">You
will not believe how many times I have wanted to write and share a post with
all of you who have signed on to know more about me but I'm afraid of offending
someone. Last week, my friend and I sat in on a training class, my instructor who
is only 12 years my senior directed a question to the both of us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">He
said, "are you girls doing okay back there?" Before we could answer,
he jumped in with an apology as if we were offended and asked if we preferred
ladies or women. Why is it that we have to worry about so many grey lines of
being P.C. now? In this scenario, I know he did not mean it in an offensive
context. I'm old enough to decipher between a hidden meaning in the use of the
word "girls" and when it’s used innocently. I think these rules and
fear of consequences makes us a little less connected and a little less
empathetic because we are always wondering about how NOT to break the rules. I
watched "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbo6jAac1v41ygTk_ORMobNKeVnRPpmvE5OubfVhdPOkHtTUZmxoJXcsmySURojepZRkVHr_W0EQr7xnL4c9OCMgS9bOFuY6azn3PkfDPpf1-vc0CQacnLs58Sl4Q96_gZ1QYjm2WCk0/s1600/BC+kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="1049" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbo6jAac1v41ygTk_ORMobNKeVnRPpmvE5OubfVhdPOkHtTUZmxoJXcsmySURojepZRkVHr_W0EQr7xnL4c9OCMgS9bOFuY6azn3PkfDPpf1-vc0CQacnLs58Sl4Q96_gZ1QYjm2WCk0/s320/BC+kid.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barb in 1987 at age 8. The same age <br />Gabriel Fernandez died from abuse<br />in 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
story and although it has nothing to do with
whether we can call grown women girls without being offensive or not, the
climate of it all takes away people’s willingness to want to be involved
because they are afraid of breaking a rule. I watched countless times in the
docuseries how the abuse was reported over and over and no one did anything. I
do not want to be crass and point blame at individuals but I do want to be
clear with my point of view. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">People
have allowed the "stay out of it", "mind your own
business", "I don't want anything to do with it" attitude to
spill over far too much. The teacher consistently reported the abuse and was hushed
by her boss telling her that it was out of their scope of help by law. At some
point her hands were tied and she could not do anything else. There was a
security guard who called his boss and his boss said we don't have anything in
the manual that tells us what to do about this situation. He went a step further
and told the employees of the social services office who said they could not
get involved because they could not pay overtime to wait after hours for the
investigation. I think all that is happening in relation to this, is a direct
effect of us all being a part of the lawsuit age. This puts you in that ‘damned
if you do and damned if you don't box’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">As
I watched it all go down, it took me back to a time when I was taken away by
the state to be placed into Foster Care custody. I remember being in the counselor’s
office prior to this occurrence and I had been discussing my new living
situation with her. She had asked some questions and I thought I was in a safe
space and so I just rambled away. When she asked me why I was not staying with
my legal guardian, my aunt, I told her I was staying with friends of my family
due to the Northridge Earthquake damaging my aunt’s house and it was being
repaired. She wasn't satisfied with my responses and decided to ask more
questions. I opened right up and told her my aunt was abusing me and her
boyfriend was sketchy and I never really wanted to return to her home and would
rather stay where I was with my new mom and dad. At that point, the counselor
said by law she had to call children services and report the abuse I spoke of.
When the social worker showed up, she came in barking orders and told me I was
going to have to go to McLaren hall. Back then most of us knew McLaren Hall as
the "kiddie jail" where delinquents went. I was terrified and so I
started crying. I could not understand why I was in trouble for telling what
horrible things my adult did to me. The way the social worker was speaking to
me, you could tell the counselor was quite upset with it. She told me to go to
the bathroom and wash my face. While I was in the bathroom trying to control my
tears, she walked in and said “don't ask any questions, just come with me.
Where does your mom work?” she asked as we walked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The counselor got the needed information and
then she whisked me away and took me to my mom’s job. After that, all hell
broke loose with the social worker and police but the one thing I will never
forget is how the counselor put her neck out for me that day because she did
not feel comfortable leaving me in questionable care of the social worker who
made it seem as though I had done something wrong. The abusive way the social
worker came in and took over, the counselor felt she needed to do something. Was
what she did right? By law probably not, but she acted like a person who didn’t
want to see fear in a kid with uncertainty of protection, yes that is what she
saw and she acted on it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I
have a feeling that if Gabriel’s teacher was born twenty years earlier she may
have taken a more aggressive approach as far as getting him direct help. But
with the ways things are now, fear makes it so difficult to act. People are
afraid to do anything outside of the scope, whether it is right or wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">**Disclaimer**
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">I
am NOT placing any blame on the teacher. She put in multiple efforts to get
Gabriel help but due to procedures and how things are today, her hands were
absolutely tied. On a way smaller scale, I'm afraid to tell you some personal
stories because only GOD knows if I will offend the wrong person. If I do
offend the wrong person, I am certain that I will be the subject of a viral
social media post. Things are so different in present day, and although I <i>do</i> appreciate the strides we have made to make social interactions safer, I still
think in some way they are misconstrued and we are pulled away from the idea of
"just do something to help".<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Take
the following call for instance;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Operator
43, what is your emergency?" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"I
was driving home from work and I saw a person laying on the bus bench under a
cover. I think you need to check on him. " <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span>"Okay,
can you tell if the person needs medical assistance?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"I'm
not really sure. I don't think he is breathing." </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Did you yell out
your window or honk your horn to see if they need help?" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"No,
I am not going to do your job! Your salary is paid for by me and you need to
just do your job and get here!" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Yes,
I have dispatched units already but often times when people call about a person
down on the ground, it tends to be someone just sleeping."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span>"I
know they ain't sleeping! I told you they need help!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Okay
thank you for your call, help is on the way." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Can
you hurry and get here!?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Please be assured, help is on the
way." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Good!
Cause the person has been there since I drove past them this morning on my way
to work." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Oh,
this morning was there movement?" <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"No,
that's why I think they are dead. They are in the same spot as this morning. I
just thought someone else would have called by now to check. " <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"No,
we don't have any calls to that location." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"So
you mean I am the only one who cared enough to call." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Yes,
and thank you for caring." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Okay,
I hope you can help him. I hear the sirens, thank you."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Radio squelch"</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">"Dispatch cancel all units person sleeping only" </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In this case, yes the person was sleeping and did not need any medical help however sometimes that's not the case. No matter what <i>if</i> <i>you see something, say something. </i>I'd much rather send help and the person is found sleeping versus not sending help at all and the outcome is not positive because a person thought someone else would have called. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
</h3>
Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-39609638362680150932020-03-30T03:04:00.000-07:002020-04-18T19:21:47.074-07:00Who is that woman? <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>It
may seem unusual to know that the very thing I do daily as a career, </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>I also go
home and watch on a scripted television show. In my previous post, I described
the contrast between the dual 9-1-1 television shows, and how realistic they
are in comparison to the real thing. Episode 2 of 9-1-1 Lone Star, titled
"Yee Haw" had a scene where a woman called to report a fire from her neighbor’s
yard. Once the source of the fire was revealed as an in-ground smoker for barbecue,
slowly the story unfolded to reveal how she has disdain for the neighbor and
not because of his actions but where he is from. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>During
their exchange, in front of the crew, the male neighbor proclaimed "The
crazy lady called the police on us while we were having a birthday party for my
daughter." <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>She
replied, "Yeah because you were waving around bats." <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>"It
was for the pinata!" <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The
argument neared an end and it was determined that she is prejudiced and wants
her Mexican neighbor to be penalized. </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>As the fire crew on scene listened to the
neighbors’ argument, they made a citizen’s arrest against her for being a
nuisance and making repeated unnecessary 9-1-1 calls. She was appalled at the
fact that she was being arrested because as she put it, "I am an American
citizen.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>In
response to that, the fire captain told her, “then you should know the laws
about making unnecessary calls.” She then claims to have chest pain and having
a heart attack. So the crew agree they can't arrest her at the moment and the
medic crew moves in to assist her, however a dilemma evolved from it all. This
was due to the fact that the crew so conveniently comprised of a Muslim woman
with a hijab, a black male who is transgender, and a gay man. When they tried
to help her, she immediately declined help from the Muslim woman, and asked for
one of the guys, and noting her prejudice, he told her he is gay. Her last
choice was that of the black male and she made sure to say, “See, I’m not
prejudiced!” He said he would help her but wanted her to know he was a
transgender man. At that point, because of her prejudice, she opted for jail as
her symptoms seemed to have disappeared.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Living
in the United States of America, specifically in a large urban city, I am often
reminded we are a melting pot. Growing up in a highly populated urban city,
diversity has always been the norm for me and this made me more curious and
gave me a desire to want to learn more about different cultures. Often times,
some people who are not exposed refuse to know about other cultures and have
the idea of "this is America, you should be more American." Well, in
my personal world and as operator 43, it doesn't matter who you are, and who
you're not. At the end of my 9-1-1 line, myself and my colleagues will treat
you all the same. When the call to 9-1-1 is placed, oftentimes it is the worst
day of the caller’s life. We all recognize this and it is our job to get help
to you as well as aid you while help is on the way.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWhESPBxQ8f08vKN8ITF172ObSkfCxzR3P4hVPqPOKLz29mzrLaWa5tJd8im0hBSRzjT_SDUMVOMm8SyJr5lLIfpa7qrfJTQ-3kr3egDOrdQ3pl74FbkCZKnOpnffjfcEyxym4WE9WvE/s1600/iamthatwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="1072" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWhESPBxQ8f08vKN8ITF172ObSkfCxzR3P4hVPqPOKLz29mzrLaWa5tJd8im0hBSRzjT_SDUMVOMm8SyJr5lLIfpa7qrfJTQ-3kr3egDOrdQ3pl74FbkCZKnOpnffjfcEyxym4WE9WvE/s320/iamthatwoman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Attending the "I Am That Woman" 2020 prayer breakfast,<br />
Los Angeles, California</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /><br />
Sometimes, it is not as simple as that, as we face many challenges, between
callers not knowing where they are calling from and only having a general idea
of the location, it can be a daunting task. Now, insert the occasional caller
who instead of giving their address would rather call you names. I've been
called racial and gender-based derogatory names as well as being told I was
stupid or did not have enough empathy because I am too calm or asking I am too
many questions. I have also been threatened by callers. I can't help but think
about the irony in how they are threatening me yet they have no way to get to
me and in reverse, they had given me their address. I however know that such
backward thinking most times stems from sheer panic. I've learned from life and
this career that some thinking, whether backward or forward, will never change.<br />
<br />
As operator 43, I keep my opinions to myself while in the middle of the call. I
know that regardless of if the caller is prejudiced or not, the call could be
stemming from a life or death scenario. I will always choose life for my
callers, so I ignore the prejudiced remarks they sometimes utter. In my city,
there are over 200 languages spoken so we have a translator line which can
access any language you can think of. I have learned many cultural differences
just by living and visiting places around my city. However, there are times I
am faced with things I am not prepared for nor will I ever be able to accept as
my own thinking. Take the following conversation for example:<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>"Operator
43, what is your emergency?"<br />
<br />
(Inaudible words)<br />
<br />
"Sir?"<br />
(Inaudible words)<br />
<br />
"Sir, do you speak another language?"<br />
(Inaudible words)<br />
<br />
"Sir, I'm not able to understand you. Tell me the language you speak so I
can get a translator."<br />
<br />
"I would rather die before I let a woman help me!”<br />
<br />
"Sir, please tell me your language so I can get you a translator."<br />
<br />
(States language!)<br />
<br />
"Okay sir, please hold on."<br />
<br />
(Connects with language translator and request the language of the caller)<br />
<br />
"Please hold for your language translator."<br />
<br />
(Females voice) "I will be your language translator. "<br />
<br />
"Sir I have the translator on the phone."<br />
(Words spoken from man in foreign language)<br />
<br />
translator: "Ma'am, he told me he does not want to speak to a, well, I
can't say exactly what he said but he does not want to speak to a woman."<br />
<br />
We both pleaded with him to get the information to send him help but he refused
to allow us women to help him. Unfortunately, he was calling directly into the center,
so I had no way of tracking him nor did I have a phone number to call him back
with.</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">No matter what, the objective is always to get help to the caller. I never knew
what his emergency was. The night went on and that was another caller, with
another unknown outcome.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>
<br />
Next caller please.</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbgR8TnW7AKMN6V3mSMb9rQUAavuStjSoKjLj9ksQfVuNoNGlLoVBMFz0cE6wJSEx9rh18jyW6f8rwt1lreSNQKAqRurFOxt95L-G3iRQNbFhCzrhoE7P5E2bKBUYvIMSg9ppbUyDbw0/s1600/IATW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1020" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbgR8TnW7AKMN6V3mSMb9rQUAavuStjSoKjLj9ksQfVuNoNGlLoVBMFz0cE6wJSEx9rh18jyW6f8rwt1lreSNQKAqRurFOxt95L-G3iRQNbFhCzrhoE7P5E2bKBUYvIMSg9ppbUyDbw0/s320/IATW.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing women doing amazing things. Olympic Medalist <br />
Tasha Danvers (left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-17949832253501094742020-01-19T10:18:00.000-08:002020-01-20T08:11:43.665-08:00Is it like the TV show 9-1-1? <b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is it like the TV show 9-1-1?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>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.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>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. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>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. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> 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, </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have not known anyone personally who ran off outside of the center to help someone they took a call from.</b><b> 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".</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>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 <i>know</i> 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.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>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.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>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.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>"Operator 43 what is your location?"</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I am on the freeway driving, and my husband is having chest pain."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"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?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I'm too scared to pullover, I think I should drive straight to the hospital. He is in pain!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"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."</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Okay, I'm just so nervous! We were driving to our grandchild's graduation. I don't think we are going to make it</b><b>"</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ma'am the paramedics and doctors will do their best. But I need you to pull over so I can get help to you."</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><b>At this point I know you're wondering have I sent the paramedics? </b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>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. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<b>"Hunny I'm going to pull over so they can help you okay? Hunny? HUNNY!!! OH MY GOD!!! HUNNY! HUNNY!"</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ma'am what's wrong?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I don't think he's breathing! HUNNY!!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ma'am I <i>NEED </i>you to pull over now! Pull over and tell me the last sign you saw."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Okay the sign says exit 57"</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"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?"</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Yes."</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> "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?"</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"NO! NO! nothing!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Okay listen get out of the car safely and quickly and go to the passenger door."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Okay I'm here! Where are they!?! What do I do?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ma'am I want you to pull his legs out of the car and quickly pull him down to the ground.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I Can't! He's too heavy!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ma'am once you pull his legs out, the top of the body will be easier to pull down. Come on, do this <i>quickly</i>"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"But the ground is dirty!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ma'am he's not breathing, we won't worry about him getting dirty right now, we can clean him up later."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Okay, okay! I got him to the ground."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Is he on his back?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Yes!"</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"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."</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I know! I know! ah ah ah ah stayin' alive! Right?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Yes ma'am if you want to use that beat it works. I will count with you."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"OMG! Hunny you can't die on me! You can't!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Ma'am please concentrate on the compression's for me okay? Hard and fast let's keep going!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I think I hear them! I think I do!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Yes ma'am they are not far. Keep going don't stop until they get to you."</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Oh my GOD they are here!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Thank you ma'am you did such a great job."</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AzANrLm_XcsZ6YLlPnCfczo6Jl1vZkBS0BUu3NANUKX2PZ5GrvqMcmLcBizziU6-Z6R0YcvNySN0yLB4QGqwqUvYX9eTGS8urls5PQaCsM2m5Kqa1nYLZy6-Lx0-U0C91MgZ1b8J1JA/s1600/20200119_095558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AzANrLm_XcsZ6YLlPnCfczo6Jl1vZkBS0BUu3NANUKX2PZ5GrvqMcmLcBizziU6-Z6R0YcvNySN0yLB4QGqwqUvYX9eTGS8urls5PQaCsM2m5Kqa1nYLZy6-Lx0-U0C91MgZ1b8J1JA/s320/20200119_095558.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though I just finished drying my sad eyes, I had to find<br />
a smile and happiness to share in the moment.<br />
I wished the couple on the freeway could experience<br />
the same. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>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?</b></span><br />
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</span><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't know. I never know. The outcomes are unknown for me. It's always the idea of move on..."next caller please".</span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> </span></b></span><br />
Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-10603338575879249462019-12-27T08:57:00.002-08:002020-05-18T22:55:03.684-07:00All Superheros Have A Kryptonite <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b> I take 9-1-1 calls so yes, I am calm and jump into action when there is an emergency, whether on the phone or in person. I've drove down the street watching a woman get beat by her man and I had no regard for my own safety and jumped out my car to help her. I was able to get her to my car and took her to the police station as she bled all over my seat. I've seen a woman on the freeway about to jump over the ledge and I pulled over and talked to her until the police arrived and took over. I am cool, calm and give all the necessary information needed that many times my callers fail to give me when it's their emergency. </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Typically when you talk to me through my headset it's quite possibly the worst day of your life. </span></b><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">You absolutely never know how you will react when you're in the middle of an emergency yourself. </b><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">You may say you got it under control. But you won't know until it actually happens to you. </b><br />
<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b>Ask the trauma nurse who had to watch their child have a seizure while on the phone with me. The nurse could not stop screaming in panic to give me the address needed to send help. Eventually I was able to calm the nurse just enough for me to hear "I am a trauma nurse, but I need your help, tell me what to do!" </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Ask the doctor who was calling for his friend while at a medical convention. The friend went unconscious and needed CPR and there I was giving a medical doctor life saving instructions. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Ask me operator 43...when I saw my co-worker drive away and get t-boned by a bus, I called my job in a shear panic. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">"Help! Help! Get the paramedics and ambulance here now! Send them to our job!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">"Who's job?"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">"Our job! HURRY NOW! WE NEED HELP!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Yeah that didn't go over well. I was no help at all and hung up on the dispatcher due to my own frustration. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Ask me operator 43 about the time law enforcement sent me a call and before they could say anything I heard this little girls voice say "Hello" I froze and didn't want to look at the screen displaying the info from the caller because I knew the voice. I called her name and she replied "Yes". Like a deer in headlights I stared at the phone screen and confirmed what I already knew. It was my niece calling me. Although she was six years old I taught her well enough that she knew you only call 9-1-1 for an emergency. So if she was calling...then it absolutely had to be a <i>real</i> emergency. When I realized what was happening I never even asked her what was wrong and I just sent help. I sat on the phone with her as I cried watching and waiting for the units to make it to her. I never did what I was supposed to do as operator 43. In that moment, hearing her voice was my kryptonite. All my superhero powers were gone. </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b>Good news, although it was a real emergency everything went well but later I was in for a doozy. My niece's mom called me and said you really scared her when she called you. I felt bad, because when I needed to be a superhero I failed her miserably. </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">The next day I took pizza to her class. She introduced me, "this is my auntie,</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">she's a 9-1-1 operator!" The kids looked up to me oohed and ahh'd because I was in my uniform and I'm sure she told her class how she had to call 9-1-1 the day before. She then said, "9-1-1 operators are <i>supposed </i>to be calm but she wasn't yesterday when I called her." I guess it's true as the saying goes "kids say the darnedest things". </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Just days before writing this entry, I got a call from law enforcement, they said they needed a medical response and wanted our units to stage. To stage means the situation is too dangerous and the Fire Department units need to wait until law enforcement handles the danger before treating the patients inside. These calls are typically gunshots, stabbings, or victims of an assault. The Fire Department do not come with weapons so law enforcement does their job first. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b>The address law enforcement gave me was the same exact address as my niece's house. I froze just like the day I got the call from my niece twelve years ago. 43, ARE YOU THERE? oh yes yes, I repeat back the address...<i>west twenty first street</i> and she says no 43, east<i> twenty fourth</i> street. I thought I heard 21st street. Which at the time my brain was zeroed in on thinking what was going on there at my niece's house <i>again </i>years later, that my brain never rationalized her address is WEST, and my department doesn't even handle the west side of the city. </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">If a person I know is calling 9-1-1, it's a horrible feeling and I react differently with them versus a stranger. On the phone before they even tell me what is wrong, I <i>know </i>the caller through my headset possibly is having the worst day of their life.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-25225756615950269782019-12-10T10:13:00.001-08:002019-12-10T10:13:34.767-08:00The Sunrise <span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>While most of you are sleep and dreaming I am up wearing my superhero headset. Although my job is pretty repetitive as far as the procedures of how the calls are taken, </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can say at night the calls are <i>almost </i>all emergencies. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some are routine and then there are the times my life saving skills are tested. When I am at work you can typically find me in the same spot. I sit right next to the picturesque window with the view of the San Gabriel Valley. Sitting in the window I watch people come and go, to and from work. I also watch the airplanes in the sky. I've had this window view so long I even know when the planes coming and going to LAX are not in their normal landing and takeoff patterns. I am quite fascinated by aviation so to be able to see planes flying is always nice. In addition we have a helicopter pad and sometimes I get the treat of seeing what I call the whirly bird land and take off. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I will be candid with you, there are some day's I'm drained and I look out the window wishing I were on the whirly bird or the airplane. But in the end I know I'm needed sitting in my chair listening to the cries for help. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's always nice to connect things and have small epiphanies about why you have a certain habit.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The window I realized is my small piece of solace. Often times my mornings are filled with the screeching cries from a person who has found their loved one no longer breathing. To prevent those cries from eating away at me I sit in the window. The view I see of the sunrise is GODS's gift to me that breathes life back into me. I can leave knowing I have to make each sunrise count. So take a look</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">at my view and <i>know</i> this day is for you too. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e06666;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make the most of it!</span></span></span></b>Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-62451078906067791172019-11-19T10:52:00.000-08:002019-11-19T12:22:41.569-08:00Saturday Night<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Saturday was my first night back at work after 48 days of vacation. I didn't want to tell you so early what I do for a living because I wanted it to be some sort of revealing surprise. However now I know you are wondering "Wow what does she do to be off for 48 days on vacation? " And just so you know, I'm pushing hard trying to make those 48 days turn into 60 days next year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yes it may seem like a long time off, but superheros need time off to rejuvenate and build themselves back up. When you're a superhero you easily get drained and lose power. I don't wear a traditional cape. My "cape" I wear on my head while my body adorns dark blue pants and shirt with a proud patch I wear on the left shoulder. The motto I stand by is "The mission starts here"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I started this job over 13 years ago, when people would ask what I did for a living I would simply say "oh I just answer phones." As time went on I think a reality hit me that my job was not "just answering phones" and instead I would stand with pride and say "I am a lifesaver!" It took another few years to realize and agree, I'm more than a lifesaver, I'm a superhero. When you get into a routine it just seems like the normal thing to do. Routines often let you lose sight of things like taking care of yourself in many ways. Once you acknowledge your superhero status you fight to save everyone unknowingly. You just find yourself always helping whether you're asked or not. When your family and friends show need you just show up and help. A superhero never expects the same in return, they just save the people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Before I became fortunate enough to be paid to do this awesome job, I have always been put in situations to be trained to wear my head piece of power. At a young age I have seen and heard things many adults have yet to deal with. However instead of being bitter about it I think of it as the training I needed for my life now. All of it was just to prepare me to be a superhero. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Day one post vacay... Operator 43, what is your emergency? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Oh my God! I'm like next to the gas station and I smell gas! Lots of it!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"I'm sorry ma'am did you say you're at the <i>gas station and you smell gas? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Yes! hurry and get someone here now!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Ma'am are you smelling natural gas?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"No! Like the gas you put in your car" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">*sigh* </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And if you're actually wondering...yes there was a smell of gas at the <i>gas station, </i>it was ummm welllll yeah, gasoline. Yes at the gas station. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No special superhero headpiece needed tonight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next caller please. </span><br />
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Onlybarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730204986316039008noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6816189945477210265.post-75334749938271956852019-11-15T01:03:00.002-08:002019-11-16T12:09:14.527-08:00It's Only Barb <h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"Only Barb"...that is always said with such affection, and laughter. Many who know me have said those two words more than once in life. From the days of childhood to my current adulthood, I find myself in situations sometimes sticky and precarious or heartfelt and funny. But many times the circumstance warrants "only Barb" as the <i>only</i> sensible answer.</b></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>As anyone grows up they eventually "find" themselves. The idea of finding yourself can be interpreted in many ways. It can be completing a challenge from a bucket list, figuring out your calling or walking away from something you did not realize that was making you miserable.<br /> </b><b><br /></b><b>Now after living all these years I am for certain about two things. I have a desire to help, and I am a great storyteller. The desire to help people, I figured that out all myself at a young age, but the storytelling part it took some time and convincing. I tell a story almost everyday of my life. Most sit on the edge of their seat waiting for the climax and ending. Some will try to scurry me through it. But no matter how urgently they are waiting for the climax and end, it won't happen, I keep telling the story with the same enthusiasm and detail as I told it that same day to someone else.</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>After continuously hearing "wow Barb tell me another story" I actually started to think I had a gift for storytelling. It wasn't until one day my bestie's boyfriend said "Barb your stories are sometimes unbelievable but I have to believe your stories because there is no way you can make them up."</b><b>It was at that point I started to think about the quirky situations I would find myself in and how they easily entertained others. It still took some convincing for me to think I had a gift with the delivery of all of this but I knew people would always ask for more but it was still puzzling to me as how they would enjoy my life. These are the stories of my life. I'm not making up these stories, I just live it and share it.</b></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>When I finally gained courage and self belief I picked up my laptop and wrote a book about my life. Let me let you know now, my life story will take you from sunny days to dreary, dark, cold and thunderous storms at times. But for now, there will not be any roller coasters of emotions. Right now I want to introduce you to my bright, funny and quirky stories. I'm looking forward to you saying "Only Barb"</b></span></h4>
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