911 caller unhappy with EMT response

It seems 911 call takers have been getting tremendous amount heat this week some justified, some not. Everyone needs to ease off the New Hanover County call takers involved in the shooting because it seems they did everything correctly allowing emergency personnel to react swiftly, safely, and flawlessly. With that being said, the lady who is heard taking the now infamous 911 call involving with the OIB fire has some serious issues. It seems she only has a loose grasp on the English language making her very hard to understand and perhaps if she had spent less time trying to lecture the gentleman calling and more time listening she could have gotten the call out more efficiently.

Carol, you have made comments on 2 different stories about 911 dispatchers knowing where you are if you call from a landline or cellphone. Get your facts straight. 911 calls come in after being routed to another location to verify address, this is computerized,computers fail. Cell phones hit the closest cell tower and even with all this new technology, we cannot pinpoint your EXACT location. So do yourself a favor. If a dispatcher asks your location give it to them. You are wasting precious moments by arguing that the dispatcher knows where you are. Also if it seems 911 personel are not answering, let it ring! They will answer. You will get help faster by letting it ring than by hanging up and starting over. It takes a few seconds to route to the local 911 center, and remember, when you are in an emergency situation, 3 rings may feel like 20. If you need to call 911 remember to remain calm, answer the questions that are asked to the best of your ability and help will arrive as quickly as possible. 911 centers nationwide are understaffed, the Dispatchers underpaid, and they continue to work a thankless job 24/7 365. Next time you meet a 911 Dispatcher, say Thanks for the job you do, instead of thinking of the mistakes that are few and far between.

well that's great that the lady knows CPR but if she had any common sense she would know that CPR in the case of a GSW would only make matters worse for the victim. the important thing that she should have been doing was keeping the dispatcher informed on what was going on around the scene and applying pressure to the wound to keep the man from bleeding to death before the medics arrived. it is VERY IMPORTANT for a dispatcher to know what's going on at the scene because they have to dispatch LEO's into that scene and if the shooter is still there, or there is a gathering crowd or there are angry people on scene than the cops need to know, also no EMT/Paramedic will go into a volatile situation, not only are we not paid to do so, but we are forbiden to do so in very many places (dont know about Wilmington) as we are trained "A dead/injured medic is a useless medic". I'm a paramedic I see the shit of the "hood" life everyday and in most cases I can say that yes it is the person's own fault that they are in that situation but you cant judge someone that you have never seen, met or are not familiar with their situation. and the thing is we public servants are here for everyone who needs us not just the people that can afford our services and definately not just for the rich and priveledged.

Dear Lord, help me keep safe those who depend on me. Give me healthy ears, for they are my link with those who need me. Keep my mind sharp and alert, my fingers quick and nimble. Grant that I never forget how to do ten things at once, and do them all equally well. Bless me with patience Lord. Patience to deal with the public, with the officers, with the firefighters, and with everyone else who makes me want to grit my teeth and yell. Give me nerves of steel; That I may listen to a mother screaming for her child to live, the man with a gun, the family watching their home go up in flames, or a request for backup or more equipment and not give way to panic. Grant me empathy, that I may help the caller in need, and not cause them more pain than they already have. God, give me the ability to learn what I need, to remember it quickly, and give me the wisdom to use the knowledge properly. Bless my family Lord, for they will have to make sacrifices to shift work, overtime, canceled plans and times when I just can't take on one more thing. Help them understand the missed ball games, school programs and dinners for two. Lord, give me courage. Courage to persevere when I feel undervalued, unappreciated, overworked and unrecognized. Courage to keep trying when I feel in my heart it's hopeless. Last of all Lord, help me to never forget why I chose this job in the first place, to never lose sight of what is important in the midst of the stress. Help me to remember that I make a difference; however small it may seem some days, and that I matter. I am a dispatcher, Lord, grant me peace.

I often take a few minutes to read comments posted on this site daily in response to various stories. I relocated back to this area after living in Durham for seven years and I must say the racial tone of the comments posted on this site is unbelievable. It seems as though the violence against teenagers and young adults in this area can be justified by the way you live or your neighborhood. How in the world did this story lead to such a tone of racism? Why are folks being referred to as "hoods" and "animals"? What kind of people are you? If anyone is a danger to society, it would be those that post such comments. I'm willing to bet that you're the same person that's very active in your church, but yet you know nothing about the love of God. A love that doesn't see race. Whether that young man was a drug dealer, employed, unemployed, lived a life on the street or whatever; he was still someone's child and he didn't deserve to lose his life so violently. As a parent, I wouldn't wish for anyone to hear of their child being gunned down in the street. Just as we are mourning the death of the seven students killed in the beach house fire, the same compassion should be given to the young man gunned down in the street. They were all human lives. Yes, the students seemed to be on the right track and perhaps come from decent families, but that didn't make their lives any more important than the young man in the projects. The assumption could be made that the students spent their time partying with drugs and alcohol over the weekend. It doesn't mean that their tragedy should be viewed differently. My heart aches for their families the same as the young man gunned down in the street. My feelings come from being human and having love and concern for others. Please let the racism go. It is not pleasing in the sight of God.

I am so sick and tierd of these peoples excuses. I know if I can't do my job I will be fired. That 911 operator sounded like she had about a half a brain cell. If you call 911 from a phone or a cell phone they know where its coming from. Please take responsibility of your own actions.

What is up with people always using the default argument "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." (?) That does not excuse anyone's behavior. It is a way to try to get people to think that no one it perfect, so these criminals should be treated the same as everyone else. If you break the law, you face the consquences. Period. Moot point!

The 911 operator needed the background information. She needs to know what is going on around the area so she can tell LEO and EMS. EMS will not go into a hostile environment, they aren't paid to. LEO will, but they need information before just jumping into the fire.

Who ever it was that called 911 did a a good job by attempting to get this young man some help, so good job to you but f you felt CPR was necessary you should have done it and the dispatcher should have been concerned about what you was telling her and not so much about the noise in the background because the noise was not leaving but this 21 year old young man was. And for the ones talking about this "hood life" you probaly in landfall somewhere living large and looking down on us "hood" people but like someone else commented you dont know what this young man was doing he could have been coming from work or anything for all you know it could have been the wrong person so dont comment on the "hood life" get up and help the hood life get better........

they get dispatched and do every thing they can but their is only so much you can do in pre hospital care for a gun shot

shooting in Nesbitt Ct....shocker.

Perhaps the reason the 911 operator did not "jump" on your "cpr" training is because if that person has a masive chest wound, internal bleeding or a multitude of other problems CPR could be the thing that finishes them off. Please remember that 911 operators are dispatchers, not medics, doctors, emts or paramedics. The term dispatcher means extacly that...DISPATCH THE CORRECT PERSONAL TO COVER THE SITUATION.

How ignorant can this caller be? CPR doesn't help a fatal gunshot wound.

...if she had been willing to appear on camera or give her name to police.... ....but she "doesn't want to be identified." Guess that paper floating around might catch up sooner if they know your name, huh? BTW, what was so important about TELLING the 911 Operator that you are certified in CPR? Why didn't you simply DO IT? Did you need her approval or praise? Shame on WWAY for publishing this non-story.