MY BLOG: My last blog

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

My last blog

I truly wanted to help people not only sharing my grief so that more people understood what it's like losing someone you love to a homicide. But I also wanted to expose some of the inefficiencies our 9-1-1 center has locally. I was hoping that by exposing them, maybe, just maybe things would improve.

I understand they made changes. People are now no longer allowed to yell information across the room. (They weren't supposed to before and are trained not to but for some reason it was allowed so it's no great change). They are no longer using Nextel in the 9-1-1 call center. The supervisors used them and apparently the night Denise died they added to the supervisor on duty's confusion. I do so hope and I don't know but I do so hope we have a Teletype operator 24/7. That I'm not sure.

I honestly don't know if they've changed anything else. I do know it's still the same old people.

Why am I giving it up?

I'm not sure if it's healthy or unhealthy. I think it's been healthy for me. I know it has. But I'm not so sure it's been healthy for the rest of my family. And as you all know, my family comes first.

I think it scared many of them to see just how angry I've been. I think it makes them worry about me more than they need to. I think it brings them pain. And that's the last thing I want to do is cause other's pain! Especially those I love.

It accomplished what I wanted it to in the sense that I did expose what I believe went wrong the night Denise died in the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office 9-1-1 center. I pray to God things are better and that some of them got a wake up call. Tragically the wake up call cost Denise her life. So, it was a pretty expensive wake up call.

And I think I shared quite adequately just how very much I miss and still love Denise. How she's on my mind 24/7. How hard it is to let go.

I'm not going to delete this blog. I'm going to leave it out there in hopes that maybe it will help homicide survivors in the future.

And if they ever want to get in touch with me as a shoulder to lean on, they can always reach via email.

I have two addresses. Noahsgrandma@gmail.com and PeggyLee@DeniseAmberLee.org

Much love and peace to all.

Peggy Lee

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.

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

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Attn: Cell Phone Users