Plus911 Caller Dies, Ambulance Sent to Wrong Address911 Caller Dies, Ambulance Sent to Wrong AddressThe Associated PressDoctors in Fulton County, Georgia say the local 911 call center makes too make mistakes. Officials say a woman died while waiting for help that was delayed because a 911operator sent emergency responders to the wrong address. (Aug. 7)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] AUTHORITIES IN SUBURBAN ATLANTA SAY DARLENE DUKES DID NOT HAVE TO DIE. [Notes:DR. IAN GREENWALD, rural/metro ambulance medical director]"The best responders in the world can't save somebody when they're crippled by an hour dispatch delay." [Notes:John Kachmar - Johns Creek City Manager]"we're talking very, very critical amount of time in terms of the time necessary to save somebody's life.OFFICIALS SAY THE 39-YEAR-OLD WOMAN CALLED 911 BECAUSE SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING. BUT A 911 OPERATOR MISHEARD THE ADDRESS AND SENT THE AMBULANCE TO THE WRONG PLACE. THE MISTAKE CAUSED A 25-MINUTE DELAY IN RESPONSE - AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST MISTAKE. [Notes:dr. eric ossmann - grady ems medical director]In 2007 grady ems pulled our medical call taking out of that comm center because it was taking an inordinate period of time to dispatch life threatening calls, so this is not one employee this is a systemic issue." [Notes:greenwald]"There's problems here, we need to fix this people are suffering and people are dying, and this situation which is sad and tragic could have been prevented."DUKES PARENTS SAY SHE EVENTUALLY DIED FROM A PULMONARY EMBOLISM. OFFICIALS SAY THE OPERATOR SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CALL CAME FROM A CELL TOWER IN NORTH FULTON COUNTY -- 30 MILES FROM THE MISTAKEN ADDRESS.CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE 911 OPERATOR WAS FIRED. BUT LOCAL DOCTORS SAY THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AND THAT THE CALL CENTER DIRECTOR SHOULD BE FIRED. THEY'RE CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE 911 CENTER AND ITS PRACTICES. ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: EDonahue-------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: NHawkins------------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: WSB--------------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: EFreeland------------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: Courtesy----------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: AP------------------------------------
Channel: News & Politics Uploaded: August 7, 2008 at 12:19 pm Author:AssociatedPress
tolveda74(Friday 26th of September 2008 09:27:22 AM)
i worked as a dispatcher it's not that easy...sometimes you don't understand the patient and when you can from a cell phone you don't get the address you are calling from that is why it is always good to call for your home phone you get your address....sometimes shit happens and you can't understand a damn thing people are saying....poor lady that died...
rescuebabe4(Tuesday 16th of September 2008 10:36:19 PM)
i work ems and you would be suprised how often dispatchers cant undertsand the caller. its nothing new no matter where you are.
seriously.. he got fired cause he mistook wales for wells... that women had trouble breathing, what makes her think she could talk normally... srsly.. firing the operator was just getting someone to talk the blame
LauraMVD22(Wednesday 27th of August 2008 05:53:02 PM)
the funny thing is, she was not a low life. She had a good job, worked hard, and lived in a really good part of town. For any of you to say that is horrible. No one deserves to die like that, not even you
myhonda2008(Tuesday 12th of August 2008 04:52:01 PM)
another low life off teh street
myhonda2008(Tuesday 12th of August 2008 04:50:37 PM)
another low life off the street and go figure there dumb southerners
rescuebabe4(Tuesday 16th of September 2008 10:33:28 PM)
