the best field trip EVER!
A few weeks ago I signed up to attend a field trip to our county’s 911 emergency call center. The act of signing up reminded me of my desire to acquire a copy of Eden’s 911 mini-van-birth call. Since the field trip was today, and I work best under pressure, I finally called the center on my drive there to determine what the protocol was to get a copy. They explained I needed an attorney to write a letter and get a judicial subpoena because all 911 transcripts are confidential. I was bummed.
I’ve been looking forward to this field trip. I’ve always wondered what the other end of the phone environment was like. I’ve called 911 many times. Serious. It is embarrassing and sad, but it is what it is. I did ask today if they keep track of the number of calls and they don’t … so I guess when I call it doesn’t flash crazy stuff on the screen about me or anything (so they say). I’ve called for multiple anaphylactic reactions for Ving (~8x), croup with stridor and epi-pen injection for Ving (2x), seizures for Tucker (~10x), Tucker’s fall, asthma attack for Hunter (1x), Tucker’s death, Eden’s birth, Ving accidently jabbing a plastic sword down Hunter’s mouth that caused a lot of bleeding (around age 4 &5). The ambulance has gotten stuck in my driveway in a snowdrift and needed to be towed out in the wee hours. Oh, and once when I lived in the city, I gave a homeless man a goodie bag and money when he shoveled my driveway, but then he came back at 5am the next day banging on my door… the police got him in my driveway and told me he had possession of drugs. I’ve also made about 5 good Samaritan calls in my life.
The call center was very calm and clean, and had security measures for entry. They receive 3-4,000 calls a day just for our county! I was amazed. The tour guide was great at explaining information to the children and making it clear about prank calls, etc. I learned that unlike any other phone call we make, as soon as we touch all three numbers, 9-1-1, they have a record of our call. They do not need a connection with a voice, just the numbers being pushed on the keypad! And as you probably know, they will dispatch police to your home, so please stay on the phone to tell them there is no emergency if your child (or mine) calls them by accident. Also, all cell phones, as of 3-4 years ago have a GPS chip in them. If you ever have an emergency and you’re on your cell phone, call, and keep the line connected even if you cannot talk. As long as your cell remains connected to 911, they can continue to follow your location even if you are moving! I thought that was cool.
They keep all call records for 7 years by NYS law. All audio recording is kept for 13 months. I again asked what process was necessary to acquire a transcript of a call. Again, I received the same answer regarding a judicial subpoena though an attorney. The officer guiding us noted that usually the attorneys and legal stuff take care of the requests, etc.
Being kinda serious and kinda silly I stated…. “But even for moms that have babies in mini-vans and want the information for their scrapbooks?”
“Are you the Mario’s lady?” He asked. (A local woman recently gave birth at Mario’s restaurant and it was in the paper and news.)
“Thankfully no, I was before her.” I replied.
At the moment of my statement, the big-cheese-boss-man was near our group and heard this conversation.
Before I knew it, he was welcoming and directing me over to a cubicle. With the date of Eden’s birth and the phone number my girlfriend called them on, within seconds I was hearing the actual recorded call from that wonderful early morning on June third. It was sooooooo cool.
The gentleman on the computer commented how wonderful it was to listen to a nice recording. I can’t imagine the yuck they have to listen to everyday. I remember Tucker’s Move-to-Heaven-day’s 911 call, and it was horrific. (I’ve pondered acquiring Tuck’s transcript as well, but I don’t think I could read it. They don’t have the audio anymore. Not that I would listen to that either. But it seems like my private property, and I kinda want to have it.)
The way all the details came together today felt like a big hug from God. He cares about these details in our life. He continues to amaze me. I’ve been on a God high all day.
I remember Eden’s birth from my limited pain-anxiety-view goggles. I requested my two sweet friends that were at her birth to write down their memories of the event, and that helped me solidify certain memories and piece things together. But today, being able to hear the dispatcher’s voice and words, and everything Tammy was saying back to her, and my laboring sounds is just amazing. I have a more complete picture of the event. At one point in the call, Tammy had set the phone down for some time in order to help with the baby. 911 continues to stay on the line, recording a prayer that Irv lifted up to the Lord immediately after her birth, which followed with him talking to the dispatcher on the phone as well.
I. Just. Love. It!
Oh, and they gave me an audio copy to bring home! I’m sure Eden will love it someday.
It will be hard to ever top this field trip. It was the best field trip EVER!
When dad asked the Biggies about the field trip today, they thought it was quite boring. I know that they prefer more hands on, but this was pure listening and informative.
Ving stated, “Yeah, my ears really hurt!”
“From what?” Dad asked.
“From mom playing that birth thing so loud in the van on the way home.”
hee, hee.
If you wanna come over for a visit, I’ll let you listen to it. Just ask. I’ll share.
And if you don’t ask, I might just share anyway.
