When Strangers Show Up

[JJT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> 45 minutes.... ridiculous. </font>


45 minutes.... COMMON.


Don't bet your life on 911. The police are NOT there to protect you. They'll be there in time to take a report.

That's YOUR job. )</font>


We recently had a need to use 911, the Sheriff was here in under 5 minutes, the rescue squad 2 minutes later and then the ambulance another minute or 2 later. This was a 4AM call, and we live in the sticks. Our 14 year old son had a seizure, the dog got us up. All the tests came back fine, this was a first, the neurologist says there's a good chance it will never happen again.

 

[JJT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> 45 minutes.... ridiculous. </font>


45 minutes.... COMMON.


Don't bet your life on 911. The police are NOT there to protect you. They'll be there in time to take a report.

That's YOUR job. )</font>


We recently had a need to use 911, the Sheriff was here in under 5 minutes, the rescue squad 2 minutes later and then the ambulance another minute or 2 later. This was a 4AM call, and we live in the sticks. Our 14 year old son had a seizure, the dog got us up. All the tests came back fine, this was a first, the neurologist says there's a good chance it will never happen again.

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> I would hope so, but for police or ambulance you still dial 911. I would hope a cop patroling could make it here more quickly than a volunteer driving to the fire dept., waiting for the crew and then driving to me, but you never know....
</font>

I know of some very rural counties where there is only the sheriff and three or four deputies to cover the entire county during all hours of the day. There are a few small communities in the county, each with between 200 and 600 residents, who have their own volunteer fire departments.

The volunteer fire department's EMT's can make it over in a matter of minutes, but if the sheriff's deputy who is on duty at the time is 30 miles away on the other side of the county, you can bet the response will be 45 minutes.

I think the point is, law enforcement officers can't be everywhere, so steps should be taken to understand how to handle situations if they ever happen... the original poster's children knew what to do.

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> I would hope so, but for police or ambulance you still dial 911. I would hope a cop patroling could make it here more quickly than a volunteer driving to the fire dept., waiting for the crew and then driving to me, but you never know....
</font>

I know of some very rural counties where there is only the sheriff and three or four deputies to cover the entire county during all hours of the day. There are a few small communities in the county, each with between 200 and 600 residents, who have their own volunteer fire departments.

The volunteer fire department's EMT's can make it over in a matter of minutes, but if the sheriff's deputy who is on duty at the time is 30 miles away on the other side of the county, you can bet the response will be 45 minutes.

I think the point is, law enforcement officers can't be everywhere, so steps should be taken to understand how to handle situations if they ever happen... the original poster's children knew what to do.

 

[Freds]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the original poster's children knew what to do)</font>

They sure did, but I think the topic has turned a little to, response times and what to do in the meantime.
It's interesting to read all the varying times of response. The state police handle my township and while the borough police are only a mile away and it's a small borough to patrol... they get kind of fussy about crossing into the township and where the money is coming from if they respond. One of those political things I guess.

 

[Freds]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the original poster's children knew what to do)</font>

They sure did, but I think the topic has turned a little to, response times and what to do in the meantime.
It's interesting to read all the varying times of response. The state police handle my township and while the borough police are only a mile away and it's a small borough to patrol... they get kind of fussy about crossing into the township and where the money is coming from if they respond. One of those political things I guess.

 

[shvl73]

I hope no one took my criticism to be of the officers involved. A system that puts them in a situation of not responding in a time of emergency due to political issues or financial reimbursment is a system that should be looked into ASAP.
I had an experience last year I'll never forget. I was working a trade show in Massachusets when I came upon a person who expired in the parking lot. I called 911 and told them which convention center and officers and emergency personnel arrived pronto. The officials were very dedicated in their efforts despite later on I saw some discussion between some of them regarding jurisdiction. Evidently the hotel is on a border between towns. There was no question that the efforts to bring the person back to life were first and foremost in their minds regardless. I guess I always thought that's how it should work in an emergency.

 

[shvl73]

I hope no one took my criticism to be of the officers involved. A system that puts them in a situation of not responding in a time of emergency due to political issues or financial reimbursment is a system that should be looked into ASAP.
I had an experience last year I'll never forget. I was working a trade show in Massachusets when I came upon a person who expired in the parking lot. I called 911 and told them which convention center and officers and emergency personnel arrived pronto. The officials were very dedicated in their efforts despite later on I saw some discussion between some of them regarding jurisdiction. Evidently the hotel is on a border between towns. There was no question that the efforts to bring the person back to life were first and foremost in their minds regardless. I guess I always thought that's how it should work in an emergency.

 

[srs]

JD3520, thanks for the supporting statements. I guess some TBN members live in very rural areas and their police or fire protection is very small. The Baltimore County Police Department surrounds Baltimore City, Maryland which has one of the highest crime rates in the nation. We get a lot of overflow from the city. Our department has over 1800 sworn and non sworm members and covers quite a large area. So what I'm saying is with this type of police coverage that explains the rapid response time. I guess if you have only a 1 or 2 or 3 person police department response time could really suffer. Our fire department is made up of both paid and volunteer services and their response time is quick, very quick. Should you need an ambo or fire truck its there in minutes!!!!

 

[srs]

JD3520, thanks for the supporting statements. I guess some TBN members live in very rural areas and their police or fire protection is very small. The Baltimore County Police Department surrounds Baltimore City, Maryland which has one of the highest crime rates in the nation. We get a lot of overflow from the city. Our department has over 1800 sworn and non sworm members and covers quite a large area. So what I'm saying is with this type of police coverage that explains the rapid response time. I guess if you have only a 1 or 2 or 3 person police department response time could really suffer. Our fire department is made up of both paid and volunteer services and their response time is quick, very quick. Should you need an ambo or fire truck its there in minutes!!!!