Hello again everyone, I hope you had an uneventful month of August and are ready for some weather changes.
We have made it past Labor Day, the kids are back in school, and College Football has gotten cranked up. I look forward to September, not just for football, but also for the coming change in the weather. I know it does not happen quickly in South Alabama, but it does start to trend down into some cooler temperatures. However, don’t let your guard down just yet as we are rolling into the peak of hurricane season. Have those standby goods and your hurricane plan close at hand. As I pin this edition there is activity in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Be ever mindful of what is happening in the tropics.
Last month I started a conversation about “911” and calling to report emergencies. Ladies and gentlemen, 911 is the only number you need to know if you wish to report an emergency, there is no need to look up fire department numbers. Call 911 to report what you think is an emergency because in many cases time is not your friend. A cardiac arrest emergency you have 6 minutes before brain cells begin to die without adequate blood flow. In a stroke situation you hear of the “Golden Hour,” which is the time frame that true stroke patient needs to receive medication and much of that hour is wasted in the discovery and transport time. Then there is the fact that a burning structure fire can double in size every 30 seconds if not mitigated. So, you can see in this small glimpse that time is not your friend in a true emergency.
Let’s talk about calling 911 for assistance. Does your situation deem a call to 911 and an emergency response? Afterall, what is an emergency? What might seem to be an emergency to one person may not seem to be an emergency to another person. The 911 system has become bogged down over recent years with what I like to refer to as “Basic Services” calls. Our emergency rooms have also fallen victim to this same issue. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating that you not call 911 if you think you have an emergency. What I’m saying is think about your situation and consider if you truly need emergency services. In July TDFR responded to 463 calls for service, of those calls 321 were for medical issues. Medicals calls such as “lift assist,” helping an individual who has fallen and can’t get back up on their own. I’m all for helping my fellow citizens, if I was not, I have been in the wrong business for 40 years. However, there are those who think this is the reason for our emergency service existence. Or “sick call” body pain all over as it is described in our dispatch notes. Sometimes the call is dispatched for vomiting, I hate to tell you this but there is not a whole lot that our firefighters or an ambulance crew are going to be able to do for you other than be comforting and supportive. The list of these type calls is endless. While you may need to see a physician, 911 is not the best option in these type situations. It’s not anyone’s fault that society has done a poor job in educating the masses. It’s simply stated everywhere you go call 911 for everything.
Society has failed to educate but so has the fire and emergency service. We all tell everyone to call 911. Simply stated, 911 is not necessary for everything that ails you. Unfortunately, many in our society, across this country have turned to “911” for their source of medical care.
People also believe that if you arrive at the emergency room by ambulance you will get faster treatment, not true. You simply get placed in line like everyone else according to your medical symptoms and needs. If they have a bed, you might get one or you might get stuck “on the wall,” as it is called, on an uncomfortable ambulance stretcher awaiting your turn. Here again is a problem, the ER is backed up and the ambulances get backed up “on the wall” sometimes for hours, thus preventing them from responding to other calls.
We want to be there for you during your emergency or time of need, we only ask that you consider why you are calling 911. If you follow us on Facebook or frequent our website, we often post a guide to assist you in that decision. Urgent Cares Facilities are a great option for many and they are often much quicker than the ER. Family and friends can assist you when you just need a lift and many pharmacies can offer suggestions for simple medical issues. The system is far from perfect and may never get there, but asking people to be considerate of everyone’s needs when using the 911 system may eventually help to improve the system.
Have a great September and stay safe,
Chief Byrd