I'm hoping if you click the link you'll be able to see the TV news that aired. Somehow, we missed it. I'm so proud of you, Nathan.
link: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/localnews/news8/stories/wfaa090612_ac_911changes.72f3a756.html
11:19 AM CDT on Friday, June 12, 2009
By SHELLY SLATER / WFAA-TV
When you call 911 you expect help, but there are no federal standards for training 911 dispatchers.
Now a Collin County man who blames the 911 system, in part, for his son's death is asking why not?
Michael Cantrell is teaming up with a new friend who knows his pain.
Nathan Lee's wife, Denise, was kidnapped and murdered in Florida.
She called 911 and so did a witness, but the call was never dispatched. Police never knew she needed help.
Tragedy brought the two fathers together.
Cantrell's son, Matthew, accidentally hanged himself in their backyard soccer net.
The family's call to 911 heeded little help.
Dispatchers gave no medical advice and then transferred the call, wasting precious minutes they believe could have saved their son.
"We've kind of built a long distance friendship over the last couple of months," Lee says of Cantrell.
And now, with the same motivations, the two men are pushing for federal standards for 911 operators.
"Like federal air traffic controllers, it's a federal mandating thing, but for some reason 911 isn't," Lee said.
"It's not magic," says Cantrell, "when you call 911 that everything is going to go smoothly."
The men are appealing to the federal level to create a uniform 911 system.
Currently, regulations can vary by state, even by county.
Lee says that's not good enough.
"In my eyes you truly are the first line of defense for homeland security," Lee told a group of emergency professionals. .
From better training to better equipment, the hope is to eliminate error.
"We all live in the bubbles," Cantrell said. "Until tragedy can strike you and your life is forever changed."
Cantrell misses his son Matthew every minute, but now he's redirecting that energy for change.
"It's more ammo for the fire to say this is why we're doing this," Lee says, "let's rally around and make it happen."
And together these new friends and partners say they will, step by step.
Showing posts with label 9-1-1 mandatory certification. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 9-1-1 mandatory certification. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Thoughts on the Upcoming Trial
printed in both blogs
Trials. What can I even say. My feelings? My feelings can be pretty much summoned up in one word.
Dread.
There are other feelings but if I were looking for one word to define my feelings, dread would be it.
I simply feel sick about it. Our trial is scheduled to begin August 17th.
If I've been mum for a while it's because there isn't much to say. Other than it's an awful feeling.
Tomorrow people will be celebrating Memorial Day. People will be cooking out and playing horseshoes. We used to do that. I just can't.
Memorial Day is about dead men and women who gave their lives for our country. Now instead of thinking about "cooking out" all I can think about is how people lost loved ones in horrific ways.
I still don't think anyone could die as horrifically as Denise did. But I guess people do.
It's hard not to think about the Jessica Lunsfords and the Carlie Brucias. I simply don't understand how someone can torture and kill (I consider rape a torture worse than waterboarding) such young innocents. It's just beyond understanding.
Okay, so I'm being very morbid on a Sunday morning. Now you know why I haven't written anything in a while. My thoughts are ugly and sad. I'm truly dreading the upcoming trial. I can't help crying thinking about it.
I do have some good moments. Yesterday, we had Adam for some one on one time. He's so precious. Mark's mom expressed regret that Denise was not here to see him grow. Well, I believe she is here and she is watching him grow. What I find sad is that Noah and Adam are missing out on having her here. They never really and never will have an opportunity to know her other than through our memories. They'll never experience her laugh. They'll never experience her joy and tenderness again.
They have been quite simply robbed.
You can see it in Noah's face. He has been especially robbed and he really misses her. He talks about death now around us. He knows now, I believe, that she's not coming back. He's handles it very stoically. And you can see how he's trying to adjust. He has his joyful moments too. And I believe he has more joyful moments than sad. I think now that he knows for sure she's not coming back he's actually doing a bit better. But it's hard for him. He has a million questions. He's only 3.
It makes you wonder if the alleged perpetrator could be put on trial for robbery as well. Because he really did rob us. I mean he ROBBED US. Especially Nathan and the boys.
I'll stop. I'm just not looking forward to the trial and I wanted to jot down why I haven't been writing much.
I really need to get to one of those meetings for Parents of Murdered Children. I think I should try the one in Sarasota. hmmm... we'll see. I'm just sick thinking about it.
I guess we should focus on the positive. The positive being the help and support we want to give to the 9-1-1 industry so that what happened that night with the blown chances of saving Denise in the 9-1-1 center doesn't happen to another family.
Two things could have saved Denise that night. 1.) Certification and standards for the 9-1-1 call taker and dispatchers. They had the training and they had the technology but they weren't using either appropriately. And 2.) cell phone location. Denise made a 9-1-1 call that lasted seven minute and had we been using GPS technology we could have found her.
Would she have been damaged? Yes. But she'd still be with us. I feel unbelievably strong about that.
sigh
Added edit: I just finished watching the PBS special concert for Memorial Day. It helped put things in perspective. I do hope sincerely that any one who is reading this and may have lost a loved one in one of our wars knows my heart and prayers are with you. And that I didn't mean any disrespect. God bless you with much love and peace.
Trials. What can I even say. My feelings? My feelings can be pretty much summoned up in one word.
Dread.
There are other feelings but if I were looking for one word to define my feelings, dread would be it.
I simply feel sick about it. Our trial is scheduled to begin August 17th.
If I've been mum for a while it's because there isn't much to say. Other than it's an awful feeling.
Tomorrow people will be celebrating Memorial Day. People will be cooking out and playing horseshoes. We used to do that. I just can't.
Memorial Day is about dead men and women who gave their lives for our country. Now instead of thinking about "cooking out" all I can think about is how people lost loved ones in horrific ways.
I still don't think anyone could die as horrifically as Denise did. But I guess people do.
It's hard not to think about the Jessica Lunsfords and the Carlie Brucias. I simply don't understand how someone can torture and kill (I consider rape a torture worse than waterboarding) such young innocents. It's just beyond understanding.
Okay, so I'm being very morbid on a Sunday morning. Now you know why I haven't written anything in a while. My thoughts are ugly and sad. I'm truly dreading the upcoming trial. I can't help crying thinking about it.
I do have some good moments. Yesterday, we had Adam for some one on one time. He's so precious. Mark's mom expressed regret that Denise was not here to see him grow. Well, I believe she is here and she is watching him grow. What I find sad is that Noah and Adam are missing out on having her here. They never really and never will have an opportunity to know her other than through our memories. They'll never experience her laugh. They'll never experience her joy and tenderness again.
They have been quite simply robbed.
You can see it in Noah's face. He has been especially robbed and he really misses her. He talks about death now around us. He knows now, I believe, that she's not coming back. He's handles it very stoically. And you can see how he's trying to adjust. He has his joyful moments too. And I believe he has more joyful moments than sad. I think now that he knows for sure she's not coming back he's actually doing a bit better. But it's hard for him. He has a million questions. He's only 3.
It makes you wonder if the alleged perpetrator could be put on trial for robbery as well. Because he really did rob us. I mean he ROBBED US. Especially Nathan and the boys.
I'll stop. I'm just not looking forward to the trial and I wanted to jot down why I haven't been writing much.
I really need to get to one of those meetings for Parents of Murdered Children. I think I should try the one in Sarasota. hmmm... we'll see. I'm just sick thinking about it.
I guess we should focus on the positive. The positive being the help and support we want to give to the 9-1-1 industry so that what happened that night with the blown chances of saving Denise in the 9-1-1 center doesn't happen to another family.
Two things could have saved Denise that night. 1.) Certification and standards for the 9-1-1 call taker and dispatchers. They had the training and they had the technology but they weren't using either appropriately. And 2.) cell phone location. Denise made a 9-1-1 call that lasted seven minute and had we been using GPS technology we could have found her.
Would she have been damaged? Yes. But she'd still be with us. I feel unbelievably strong about that.
sigh
Added edit: I just finished watching the PBS special concert for Memorial Day. It helped put things in perspective. I do hope sincerely that any one who is reading this and may have lost a loved one in one of our wars knows my heart and prayers are with you. And that I didn't mean any disrespect. God bless you with much love and peace.
Friday, May 8, 2009
John Della Bosca admits Triple 0 failings following David Iredale death
I blogged about David Iredale and his tragedy in Australia a couple of weeks ago. Here's an update. I hope they address the cell phone location problems too. I really really do. If we could only put a GPS chip in all cell phones. ALL cell phones so that if a cell phone uses 9-1-1 it immediately gives a location. The technology is out there. And it's not expensive. Some have said that the ACLU and others have problems with that because of privacy issues. Sorry. If your cell phone dials 9-1-1 someone is going to find you whether you want to be found or not. David obviously wanted to be found. Denise's murderer obviously didn't. Finding either location would've saved a life. Finding both locations would have saved 2 lives. David's and Denise's.
Article:
UPDATED | May 07, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press
THE NSW government says it will accept a coroner's recommendations to fix problems at triple-zero call centres after an inquiry into the tragic death of a teenage bushwalker.
Deputy State Coroner Carl Milovanovich was scathing of the NSW Ambulance Service call centre in handing down his findings into the death of David Iredale.
The 17-year-old student died during a planned three-day trek through the Blue Mountains National Park with two friends from Sydney Grammar School.
The trio was undertaking the December 2006 bushwalk as part of requirements for The Duke Of Edinburgh Awards scheme operated by their school.
Mr Milovanovich found David died from "the effects of dehydration", but he was critical of the triple-zero call centre's treatment of the desperate teenager.
Among his recommendations, the coroner called for all ambulance service call centre operators to have access to paramedical advice.
He also urged a widespread review of the training and protocols used by ambulance service triple-zero operators.
Health Minister John Della Bosca said the ambulance service would accept all the recommendations.
"This is a tragic case and the evidence given to the inquiry was very concerning - the government accepts there have been deficiencies in the triple-zero service,'' Mr Della Bosca said.
"The government will urgently form the working party recommended by the coroner and begin analysis of the issues identified by the coroner.''
Mr Della Bosca said work would start immediately to address the limitations of the ambulance service's existing software and database to be more effective in taking, logging, recovering and transferring emergency calls.
AAP
Article:
UPDATED | May 07, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press
THE NSW government says it will accept a coroner's recommendations to fix problems at triple-zero call centres after an inquiry into the tragic death of a teenage bushwalker.
Deputy State Coroner Carl Milovanovich was scathing of the NSW Ambulance Service call centre in handing down his findings into the death of David Iredale.
The 17-year-old student died during a planned three-day trek through the Blue Mountains National Park with two friends from Sydney Grammar School.
The trio was undertaking the December 2006 bushwalk as part of requirements for The Duke Of Edinburgh Awards scheme operated by their school.
Mr Milovanovich found David died from "the effects of dehydration", but he was critical of the triple-zero call centre's treatment of the desperate teenager.
Among his recommendations, the coroner called for all ambulance service call centre operators to have access to paramedical advice.
He also urged a widespread review of the training and protocols used by ambulance service triple-zero operators.
Health Minister John Della Bosca said the ambulance service would accept all the recommendations.
"This is a tragic case and the evidence given to the inquiry was very concerning - the government accepts there have been deficiencies in the triple-zero service,'' Mr Della Bosca said.
"The government will urgently form the working party recommended by the coroner and begin analysis of the issues identified by the coroner.''
Mr Della Bosca said work would start immediately to address the limitations of the ambulance service's existing software and database to be more effective in taking, logging, recovering and transferring emergency calls.
AAP
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Administration Steps Up Again
yeah right! Gotcha!
Friday over a week ago, I sent an email to several neighboring counties sheriff's and police departments asking them to distribute a flyer about our cookbook.
Here is a copy of the email I sent to Bob Carpenter at the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office:
Hello, Mr. Carpenter,
I was wondering if your office could distribute the attached flyer to your
department and staff. Many people from the CCSO helped in the search for
Denise. So many who worked so hard to bring her home that terrible
night...... they will always have our heartfelt gratitude.
It is our belief they may be interested in ordering a copy of the cookbook
or they may want to submit recipes.
Thank you,
Peggy Lee
The Denise Amber Lee Foundation
Below is what the flyer looked like:
Friday over a week ago, I sent an email to several neighboring counties sheriff's and police departments asking them to distribute a flyer about our cookbook.
Here is a copy of the email I sent to Bob Carpenter at the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office:
Hello, Mr. Carpenter,
I was wondering if your office could distribute the attached flyer to your
department and staff. Many people from the CCSO helped in the search for
Denise. So many who worked so hard to bring her home that terrible
night...... they will always have our heartfelt gratitude.
It is our belief they may be interested in ordering a copy of the cookbook
or they may want to submit recipes.
Thank you,
Peggy Lee
The Denise Amber Lee Foundation
Below is what the flyer looked like:
The Denise Amber Lee Foundation Cookbook
• Reserve your copy today!
• Only Limited quantities will be available
• $15 each
Make checks payable to: The Denise Amber Lee Foundation
Note “cookbook” on check and mail to:
The Denise Amber Lee Foundation
Attn: Peggy
P. O. Box 639
Englewood, FL 34295-0639
Include $3.95 (add .99 per extra book) for shipping and handling
• Remember quantities will be limited. We’re hoping to get enough advance orders to keep the price at $15 when they come out in October. Otherwise the price will go up to $18-$20.
• I’m really concerned we’re not going to be able to order enough books so, please, if you want one, reserve it today by mailing your check. They will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.
• We’re still accepting recipes until April 30th. We intend to extend this to May 15th for the 9-1-1 industry people we meet in Vegas. Email your recipes to cookbook@DeniseAmberLee.org
• I’ll be selling the cookbook out at the conference we’re going to. I plan on getting many more recipes out there. So, if you send recipes, send at least 4 or 5 so we can pick at least 1 or 2 of yours.
• Locals can save shipping by picking up the cookbook in Englewood or Port Charlotte
Now....... you tell me. What's wrong with that? Did we do something wrong in trying to include the CCSO? Was it tacky? Was it ballsy? Or was it simply the right thing to do in extending an olive branch?
I don't know.
Sadly, we heard through the grapevine (Mr Carpenter never answered my email) the CCSO is working on their own cookbook where they are going to collect money for their own charities.
Even though our non-profit is out there fighting everyday for improved 9-1-1 cellular technology and mandatory standards and certification for call takers and dispatchers they wouldn't distribute the flyer. Both things we are fighting for would would have definitely helped prevent Denise's and many other's deaths.
IMO, it sux that the CCSO is discouraging their men and women from contributing to our cookbook. Afterall, many of these men and women helped search for Denise during those awful days. And many are Rick's friends who watched Denise grow up.......
Sheriff Bill Cameron seems to be following Retired Sheriff John Davenport's lead.
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