Today, Station 16 was called out to an emergency in Harbor Point. Thank God a Fire Truck was dispatched, an Ambulance AND an Assistant Fire Chief to the scene as the danger was a bit overwhelming. Mind you, the Fire Truck was sent back to the Station as the call amounted to a victim with a hand stuck inside a glass jar.
While emergencies come in all sizes, the 911 Center needs to do a MUCH better job breaking down just what is and isn't an EMERGENCY!
Let me say this Folks. My In Laws are just about as stubborn and stubborn gets. In the middle of the night, one of them fell out of bed and was unable to get back into bed due to health reasons. The partner tried to do everything in their power to help but dead weight is dead weight and it's difficult for almost anyone to do it alone. That being said, they refused to burden 911, so they slept on the floor for the evening and waited until the morning to call one of us for help.
A GLASS JAR!!!!!! What the heck is wrong with people today, do they have NO PRIDE! When I asked one of my In Laws why they didn't call the Fire Department they replied, we didn't want to wake anyone up.
For what it's worth, that resident should be BILLED for that call, period!
15 comments:
I agree Joe. It was alerted as a Miscellaneous Rescue for a Hand Stuck in a Jar. It is not all the SFD's fault, but they did not have to respond all that equipment. The dispatch center for Wicomico County needs a total make over as well, but our lame politicians are afraid to lose some votes on this.
I have a couple of friends that in the Fire/EMS dept in DC and MD. They frequently get calls for headaches and coughing where the "patient" demanded hospital care. The people that make these type of calls are typically living off of our taxes. They do not care because they aint paying the bills.
this area has a strange way of responding to calls.several fire depts in other counties and states that only send the 1st due engine or truck with lights and siren to a fire the 2nd due respond normally this increases safety for the public and fire fighters as well.if its an actual serious emergency the second crew can upgrade their response or if its nothing they can casually return without making a scene.such as flying down rt.13 through lights then all of a sudden turning everything off like nothing happened.
Joe don't forget the Salisbury Fire Department has sent out letters begging for donations again. Just got mine in the mail and tore it up.
I got my wrist stuck in a headboard once (no joke); it was terrible because I kept thinking please let me be able to get this thing out. I do NOT want to call the FD and look like a complete idiot!
Joe, the situation with your in-laws encapsulates quite handily the change our country has gone through..."old school" --- help yourself if at all possible, even if it means some discomfort or sacrifice...try not to be a burden to others. "New School" --- other people, usually strangers with no connection to your current misfortune, SHOULD and MUST come to your immediate aid. It's their OBLIGATION to rescue you from whatever your stupidity or bad judgment has brought to you. Its not necessary to even CONSIDER helping yourself. My son is a firefighter and he says the same thing as 2:38...big fat people with "chest pains" and chain smokers with "bad coughs" and such. By law, can't be refused treatment, and by law, WE (taxpayers) get to pay...
Amen to them being billed! Not just for the call itself but for EVERY dime spent making that call.
These are the same people that have Medical Assistance cards and show up in the emergency room with a hang nail. That happened for real. They don't care cause their money isn't paying for it.
Please correct me if I'm wrong but, I believe that if they refuse to go to the hospital by ambulance then they do not get billed at all.
Charge the caller $ 175 to pay for the wasteful detailing of the chief car yesterday. No wonder the fire company is broke.
why is trooper 4 hovering in the air? Its been in the air for about 20 mins now. It looks/sounds like it is on the westside of town. any info?
Should have sent the fire boat to help them out.
Hasn't the victim ever heard of a little liquid soap? Or vaseline? Or crisco? Or butter? There are so many ways I could have gotten the jar off their hand without calling the FD.......pathetic....
Yes, FD is pathetic
Excuse me, but isn't a jar PORTABLE? As in, walk or get a ride to the doctor's office or hospital from a friend???
The 911 operator should screen these calls and suggest that the person call a cab.
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