Explore > Users > Chris_Hedges

911, Can You Hold?

Audio
Submitted by Chris_Hedges on Thu, 02/14/2008 - 8:12am
1 comment
Tags:
Bucks-County-911-Hold.mp3
Bucks-County-911-Hold.mp3

 

A disabled Doylestown, PA woman died after a 9-11 operator placed her call for help on hold.

Source: Action Taken Against 911 Officials Who Put Woman On Hold

Transcript:

(Call answered after seven rings)

Dispatcher 1: "911, can you hold one second, please?"

Orr: "No I can't. It's an emergency, 9-1-1 emergency. 3-4-0 Doyle, bed on fire."

 

(Delay)Dispatcher 2: "Thanks for holding. 911, where is your emergency?"

Orr: "9-1-1 ... 9-1-1, the bed is on fire, 3-4-0 Doyle, 3-4-0 Doyle."

Dispatcher 2: "What township or borough are you in?"

Orr: "340 Doyle"

Dispatcher 2: "What township or borough are you in?"

Orr: (BEEP) "Borough"

Dispatcher 2: "What borough?"

Orr: "Doylestown!"

Dispatcher 2: "Are you still in the house?"

Orr: "What?"

Dispatcher 2: "Are you still in the house?"

Orr: "Yes."

Dispatcher 2: "Alright, well you want to get out of house?"

Orr: "No. I'm disabled. The bed is fully in flames."

Dispatcher 2: "Ma'am, you still there? ... Hello?"(In conversation with someone else)

Dispatcher 2: "Yeah, she won't get out of the house. She said she's disabled. ... I did."

 

 

Login or sign up to comment and vote!

Comments

1 Comment by Amber | 02.14.08 | 08:02 am
oh wow. this really got to me. i can't imagine how scary that was on top of being ignored by the people who are supposed to send help and fast... not after putting you on hold. the part where she's like "i can't hold"... what else do you say to that? man