Re: 911:: Snoring MD 911 Operator

[Guest guest]

> Has anyone heard the news report of a lady in Anne Arundel, land

It's been mentioned.

> who called 911 only to hear the operator SNORING FOR 2 MINUTES ?

> I couldn't believe I heard, " Officials will decide on if any

> disciplinary actions will be taken " . That's a no brainer.

> Do you tell a relative of a plane crash victim the pilot fell asleep ?

Have you considered that it may have been a medical problem?

Most of us here have worked graves (and when we've been running low on sleep,

too). I'm not going to ask how many (specifically in small-town, quiet,

jurisdictions), how many have gotten pretty loggy during a quiet time in the

wee hours of the morning, but I suspect a bunch (I'm guilty of it). Even given

all of that (dead tired, late a night, etc), how many have actually fallen

asleep during a conversation? Many folks I know can seem to be " asleep on

their feet " (i.e. on autopilot with the brain disengaged), but I know of no one

who drops off to snores in the middle of a conversation (unless the

conversation is between me and my wife, of course).

The dispatcher had a dozen years of experience, more than enough to know how

fast even " regular " calls can go crossways and the 9-1-1 call would generate

enough adrenalin to keep him going for more than just a few seconds.

My guess, based on just the very bare facts released, is that his problem was

medical (possibly even involving medication, either prescription, over-the-

counter or otherwise). My limited experience is that his actions were far from

" normal, " even from non-dispatchers.

As to continuing his job, wouldn't that kind of depend on the cause and the

possibility of a repeat? However, the burden of proof rests on his shoulders.

Roy Mumaw

CAPD Arroyo Grande

[Guest guest]

>CNN and our local news played the recording of the operator snoring

and the poor lady having to ask, " are you okay ? " <

It was sickening.

No disciplinary action other than.. " You're Fired " will do.

Weintraut

[Guest guest]

> I can't agree that immediate termination is

the proper response either. Not without access

to all information concerning the situation.<

I probably shouldn't have jumped to the " you're fired "

without knowing about the entire situation.

But I think.. and I think.. and I think...

And I heard the tape, I heard him when he woke up,

everything in my gut tells me this guy was sleeping

on the job... a very important... life/death.. type of

job.

Now... I've dozed... anyone who's worked mids probably

has...

But I never fell asleep talking to a complaintant.

Even if it's medical.... a sleeping disorder.. whatever...

He has no business doing this work.

I could very well be wrong.. but I'm sticking with " You're Fired " .

Weintraut

[Guest guest]

I have to disagree. You fire just for one mistake? No consideration if this

is a once in a lifetime occurrence, what the circumstances are? I don't

think I could or would make that decision without access to a total picture,

including the employee's past record and the circumstances surrounding the

incident.

Granted, this is a MAJOR mistake and should be handled with some type of

disciplinary action. However, I can't agree that immediate termination is

the proper response either. Not without access to all information concerning

the situation.

JMOH

Freida

Re: 911:: Snoring MD 911 Operator

> >CNN and our local news played the recording of the operator snoring and

the poor lady having to ask, " are you okay ? " <

>

> It was sickening.

>

> No disciplinary action other than.. " You're Fired " will do.

>

> Weintraut

[Guest guest]

======= At 2004-08-07, 13:13:48 you wrote: =======

>Now... I've dozed... anyone who's worked mids probably

>has...

>Weintraut

Maybe the woman caller sounded too much like his wife and he just tuned her out.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

scott@...

2004-08-07