Originally Posted By: bepperb
I think he may have left for a cigarette halfway through. Seriously, what has to happen for a 911 operator to convey some sense of urgency. Better than someone loosing it I guess.
The people on the other end of the phone should have some serious training, but are really treated (by their employers) as telemarketers.
ten year ago, we came across a vehicle roll, half way (literally) between two country towns 100km apart...One couple on the scene had space blankets, and two lots of people (us and another) headed in opposite directions to raise help...no mobile phone coverage, and little radio (we tried a resting truckie, and couldn't raise anyone).
Got to Booroowa, and went to the (unmanned) Police Station...pressed button, and was put through to Sydney call centre. Stupid Cow on the other end stated that they could NOT initiate a response until I could provide an address, or a crossroads.
"If you are raising Boorowa, it's the Cowra Road. If you are raising Cowra, it's the Booroowa Road....I don't know the name"
Argued for 10 minutes, before she resignedly sighed and offered to call both and send them towards each other.
That was years ago.
Only the last month or so, a teenager on a Duke of Edinburgh Camp was seperated from the group, ran out of water, and made repeated phonecalls as he became dehydrated over a couple of days.
Phone went dead, and so did he.
Emergency services claimed that he could no provide an address, and was babbling incoherently at the end.
If they'd have simply logged it, they could have triangulated him.