MY BLOG: Jackie Smith

Friday, February 13, 2009

Jackie Smith

Not a name that's made any headlines, thank goodness.

But a beautiful woman just the same. Jackie lived the good life in a small rural town in the Shenandoah Valley.

This was a person with great generosity and filled to the brim with laughter and loveliness. We have very good memories of Jackie and her husband Walt.

I guess the happiest memories are of their barn dances. Indescribable.

Jackie lived a good, long life with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. And because she lived such a full rich life filled with love I'm not sorry to see her die. I believe she's in a better place. It's a place she's looked forward to all her life.

I hadn't seen Jackie in many years. Probably at least a decade if not just a tad longer. They were here for us when Mark's dad died in 1995 and we saw them a couple times after that. But only a couple. They aged too much to travel this far. And we hadn't been to Virginia in years. When we go home we go home to Maryland. My family is so large, all our time is spent visiting them. So, Virginia...... the valley...... Skyline Drive......... all in the past.

Anyhow, thank you, Jackie for so many memories. God bless your family at this time. God bless Walt. I can't imagine Walt without you. It's just inconceivable Walt being without you.

I love you. Say hello to Denise. You'll like Denise. She's a sweetheart and a "keeper".

added edit: If there were only one woman in this life that I could emulate it would be this woman. She was a true 'lady'. Bless you, Jackie, we'll miss you. And I still don't know how Walt will get on without you.

Attn: Cell Phone Users

I'm adapting this from a pamphlet Mark picked up from the California NENA conference out in San Diego.

When Dialing 9-1-1 From Your Cell Phone

1. Call only for immediate emergency assistance - medical, fire, or police.

2. Be prepared to provide your location and any essential information the dispatcher may need.

3. Stay on the line until told to hang up. You may be transferred to another agency.

added edit

Cell phones cannot "text" 9-1-1. During the Virginia Tech massacre, many students tried texting 9-1-1 because they were afraid the killer would hear them.

Do not assume 9-1-1 can find you when using a cell phone. Cell phone signals go to the nearest "available" tower.

IMO, always call 9-1-1 in an emergency unless you are sure others have already called.

And, IMO, if you are distraught, if possible have a neighbor or other family member call 9-1-1 for you. They will most likely be able to listen and give clearer instructions.

Help Reduce Unnecessary Calls

Use non-emergency numbers for your local law enforcement agency when you do not need immediate assistance.

If medical, fire or police are already on scene, it is not necessary to call 9-1-1 again. Instead, call a non-emergency number if you have additional information and witnessed the incident.

Do not call 9-1-1 for non-emergecy incidents (i.e., requesting road conditions, asking why traffic is backed up, requesting driving directions, or other similar reasons). Be prepared; contact your local FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) office directly, using a non-emergency number.

Use or maintain a landline at home and at work for 9-1-1 calls, as the dispatcher is more likely to get accurate location information from a landline.

Using 9-1-1 in non-emergency situations prevents critical emergencies from being attended to.

DID YOU KNOW?

Almost everyone in the U.S. owns a cell phone and some households do not use a landline at all. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of wireless 9-1-1 calls are made daily nationwide.

Far too many cellular 9-1-1 phone calls, both non-emergency and repeat calls for the same incident, are tying up the 9-1-1 phone system. This results in unnecessary busy signals, disconnects, and delays in dispatch time for ture 9-1-1 emergency calls.

Not every 9-1-1 call is answered by your local law enforcement agency. Cell phone providers try to calculate you approximate location using cell towers or satellite positioning. If they cannot, the call will likely default to the Florida Highway Patrol and then be transferred to the appropriate agency. This means that non-emergency or repeat calls are wasting critical minutes or dispatchers' time.

If you call 9-1-1 from you cell phone or an inactive phone, your phone number and location information may not be available to the dispatcher. Know your surroundings (street address, landmarks, mileposts) when calling 9-1-1. This will save valuable seconds in an emergency.

Avoid accidental 9-1-1 calls

Accidental cell phone calls can congest the 9-1-1 phone system. Accidental calls occur when the phone is placed in a pocket, belt clip, or purse, and a pre-programmed emergency button is bumped. Even a locked phone can dial 9-1-1.

Help Avoid Accidental Calls With the Following Tips

Do not hang up on an accidental 9-1-1 call. Inform the dispatcher that the call was an accident before you hang up.

Do not pre-program 9-1-1 into your or your child's cell phone's speed dial. This can lead to accidental calls.

Teach your child how and when to dial 9-1-1 from a cell phone. Train them to press 9-1-1 and the "send" button only in an emergency.

Even cell phones without active service can dial 9-1-1. Take batteries out of cell phones before recycling them or giving them to a child to play with.

Don't call 9-1-1 to check to see if you cell phone works. 9-1-1 is to be used for emergency calls only.

MY BLOG

Friday, February 13, 2009

Jackie Smith

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Attn: Cell Phone Users