9-1-1 Stories...

Useless 911

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I used to work at Denny's in Cranbrook. After 911 was relocated to Kelowna, we learned very quickly not to bother calling 911 in an emergency. It simply took to long trying to tell them that there was only one Denny's and that the police knew where it was. But no, they would insist on an address and even a cross street! They were definitely more concerned with the address than anything. We learned it was much easier and faster to call the local non emergency number. We would tell them we (Denny's) would need assistance and there were no further question about location needed or asked. They would tell us "OK, we have someone on the way". Very simple!

In a more recent incident, I now live in Kimberley on the street that leads up to Townsite. One night, a van crashed into one of the electrical poles up the street from me. The driver was very obviously drunk. I called 911 and explained the location and the operator asked me what highway it was!!! (It was Wallinger avenue and I kept telling him so.) He wanted to know is it was west or east (??!) I had no clue then he asked is it going towards Vancouver or Calgary. The road goes to neither place! It goes to Townsite, a suburb of Kimberley and it is effectively a dead end! After all that, I kept telling him just tell the police that it's by the Senior's Center on the way to Townsite, they will know. The operator refused and said he needed a "proper location"!! When all was said and done, I watched the drunk driver get back in his van and drive away and told the operator so. The police never did show up to check it out.

I, too have called 911 on a few different occasions and got put on hold. Thankfully, it didn't affect me like it did poor Tammy. I have wondered, though, what would happen when it was a situation like Tammy faced. I guess we all now know the unfortunate answer to that question.

I don't bother with 911 anymore. They are useless as far as I'm concerned. I can only hope that if I am in need of help, that the person calling will be knowledgeable enough to not bother calling the so called 911 "emergency" number and call the local " non-emergency" number instead. It could make the difference between life and death.