911 and cell phones

Brewer · 08-08-2006, 05:42 PM

I heard recently on the news that you can get the run-around when calling 911 on a cell phone.

Today I had reason to call 911 and experience first hand the problem.

A recorded message comes on telling you you have reached Portland 911 and that you are calling from a a cell phone if you really have an emergency say "911" or dail it again.

After working through the prompts trying to get through the system dropped me (not the phone).

I called again, different phone this time. I got the same deal for a while then a live person.

After that I had all but forgotten the details of the crime that I had wittnessed and had a hard time making a statement.

Which leads to another topic. What is an emergency?

I wanted to report that two guys were sorting through their shoplifting loot and disposing of hangers and packing material right next to me in my parked car.

Not life threatening but it sure burns me!!! I saw an officer drive by on a side street too, if he had ben looking the right direction he could have seen it going down.

I'm glad I had the experience and will never call 911 again unless it is life-threatening and I will also expect the run-around, and not really count on getting any help in a reasonable amount of time.

The operator said they would send someone by to check it out. I stayed there about 20 min. and ate my lunch. Never saw an officer.

I don't have a land line phone. I don't use the phone much at all. I got a cell phone for emergencies and the few personal calls that I make. So, there will be a change starting tonight: my cell phone by the bed for emergencies is being replaced with the .357. Not that the pistol was out of reach to start with, just that I'll pick the .357 up and dail it in first for any night time problems.

Brewer

PapaHog · 08-08-2006, 07:14 PM

I have called 911 three times with my cell phone and all three times were answered by a real person.

Three accidents and three reports to 911.

Brewer · 08-08-2006, 08:02 PM

Glad you got the response you needed from 911. I have never before questioned the thought. You call 911 and someone answers.

Had these guys realized I was there things could have played differenlty. All of the what-ifs. They may have decided to confront me for my car or rob me for the heck of it.

Could I navigate automated menues while bleeding to death?

I used to think I was fairly aware of what is happening around me and my personal safety. Now, I'm rethinking that. Part of that change is the thought of what will happen if no one anwers my call for help?

911 only if death is emminent and then don't count on it.

Brewer

Corkie Monster · 08-08-2006, 08:22 PM

The reason for the recording is because 911 gets to many unintentional calls due to the Cell phones being in peoples pockets/purses (not locking their keys). This is the reason I use flip phones.

CM

adiposessed · 08-08-2006, 08:39 PM

You have no idea how many bogus calls 911 receives each day. On top of the bogus calls there are the people that think 911 is the number to call when they need police to solve their personal problems, child custody disputes, financial troubles, relationship problems, neighbors that glare at them, barking dogs, kids who dont behave, a car blocking a driveway, and the list goes on and on.

For the most part these are things that dont need to be dispatched right away, via 911 dispatch. That is why there is a "non emergency" number.

There are many things that [whoopsydaisies!] me off but most are not worthy of calling 911. Take a deep breath, grab a license plate or a description of what is going on and who is doing it and really think about whether or not this requires an immediate emergency response. If the answer is no, call the non emergency line and give them the info. An officer can follow up on that info between emergency calls.

You are correct, you wouldnt be able to manage an extensive menu if you were bleeding or having a heart attack. There is a fail-safe for just this instance. If you dont answer any of the voice prompts a police call will be set up using the exact coordinates of your cell phones last signal as the location.

Its not all doom and gloom. Just realize that there is more than one person out there needing immediate response (robbery, assault, ****, etc.).

Sorry for the rant

Gus Orviston · 08-09-2006, 01:16 AM

Also they often get multiple calls for the same accident and it can clog up all the lines at once. Had never thought about it that way,, but I too expect to get somebody when you dial 911... maybe we need a medical emergency line and other ?? Not sure how to solve this one..

roadsend · 08-09-2006, 05:41 AM

If the 911 system here worked like yours, I would also relagate it to my second course of action in an emergency.

It must depend on where you live. I have called 911 on my cell phone about five times and have always experienced immediate, professional response.

Bugle4em · 08-09-2006, 05:57 AM

If the non-emergency number was something more readily known, it would probably get used alot more. I am certainly not advocating use of 911 due to a dog at large or some other non-emergency. But, not everyone has the non-emergency number memorized and like the post above, time was very important relating to catching the thieves in the act. It isn't going to do much good 5 hours later when you get home and look up the non-emergent number, then wait two more hours for the officer to get back to you because he is busy on calls that are in progress.

tnj8222 · 08-09-2006, 07:04 AM

when i have called 911 on a cell they ask me my city and state... then put me on hold and transfer me, which didnt really take long but it would have been nice if i or somebody i know was hurt and i could have gotten help right away!!

Diksey · 08-09-2006, 08:38 AM

there aren't many places in Oregon yet where 9-1-1 can locate where your cell call is coming from. They still need to ask you.

bigger centers such as Portland and Washington County are saving big $$$$ by making you say 9-1-1 or dial it again to get through. It is not an extensive menu, just one more step. It weeds out "butt" calls - 9-1-1 calls from sitting on your 9 button. These accidental 9-1-1 calls are about 1/2 their calls.

most of your coastal 9-1-1 centers can quickly transfer your 9-1-1 call to the Coast Guard. And it is amazing how far out your cell phone works.

Brewer · 08-09-2006, 06:03 PM

JB,

It sounds like you may know about just how many false or non- emergency calls occur. I'm sure it is staggering in a large metro area. I moved to Ptld. area within the last couple years from rural OR. I'm realizeing how things are different and problems magnified with the more dense population(no pun intended).

My previous beliefs would lead me to believe that I was having an emergency. Crime(theft) was an emergency to me. Now, I think differenly. Emminent death or severe accident is an emergency in my thought now and like you said take a deep breath... and program nonemergency #'s in the phone. Crime is still worth reporting. Where I'm from shoplifting of the magnatude I saw would have been front page news.

As far as accidental dialing of 911. That is is an education issue in my mind, and should rarely happen. That "9" to dial emergency should not even be a phone feature. Keys locked always,like sitting on the mike of a two-way. I've heard lot of things I shouldn't have because of that!

I'm even more aware of my surroundings now and that's good for anyone. Personal safety is my own responsibility and is a higher priority now.

The odds of getting a real person at 911 will improve I'm sure if we all make the determination between terribly important and deathly important, and dial accordongly.

Dogs barking...

I guess that makes my neighbor splitting wood at 4am an emergeny in their book!

Brewer

elkslayer · 08-09-2006, 10:06 PM

I had a gun pulled out on me and put to my buddys head on new years a few years ago, because apparently we walked down "our block" by some jokers, I of course call 911 from my cell phone and they tell me " Sir your on a cell phone we can't authenticate if it's real and your too excited to understand so bye." So now I figure what's the point in calling 911 and they tell me that after having a gun in my face by some drunk a$$ punks.

Bugle4em · 08-10-2006, 05:47 AM

Quote:

" Sir your on a cell phone we can't authenticate if it's real and your too excited to understand so bye."

roadsend · 08-10-2006, 05:59 AM

"Sir your on a cell phone we can't authenticate if it's real and your too excited to understand so bye."

I think that I would plan a trip downtown to have a talk with the person in charge and personally review the center SOPs before filing a formal complaint.

Diksey · 08-14-2006, 12:00 PM

they are never too busy to take a real call.

Snakebite · 08-14-2006, 12:18 PM

Shoot first, call the cops later. Defend yourself first, then report it immediately!. This being an extreme situation of course, goodness forbid this should happen to anyone....but you better have a good reason to shoot first. On the other hand, if they shot, attacked, etc. first, I wouldn't worry too much. However, it will probably end up in a hassle for your right to self preservation...dead folks don't lie...think about it...unfortunately, it goes both ways in some situations.

elkslayer · 08-14-2006, 09:46 PM

ya well it was maybe two years ago and I just didn't know what to do, and the reason We had the gun pulled was cause we walked down what these guys called "their block." I had no firearm and if I did probably would have been in the front page if I did try to defend myself. What really upset me was that this is the exact kinda of situation you read about on New Year's Day in the Newspaper or on the evening news, since then I have never felt that my calls would be taken seriously. and in the words of public enemy " 911 is a joke in your town." I know that it not always the case but in that situation it fit perfectly, not only did I call my friend that had the gun to his head called and they told him he was to excited as well, he on the other hand went home and tried to get a gun and go back, luckily his father and brother stopped him. I to this day can't believe that was the response I got and thank whoever it is that was watching over me that I didn't catch a round.