Dig Deeper
You read that police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers (PFADs) play an important role in facilitating communication among emergency responders, but PFADs, also called "911 dispatchers," must be adept at communicating with the general public. They must obtain information about the nature of the emergency while reassuring the caller that emergency responders will soon be on the scene—this can be particularly challenging when the caller is a child. Here are two stories about children who called 911 and spoke to PFADs.
Keeping a 12-Year-Old Calm
A 12-year-old boy in Port Arthur, Texas, maintained incredible poise on the phone with a 911 dispatcher after burglars broke into his house when he was home alone.
"Someone's trying to break into my house," Deion Murdock told a 911 dispatcher with the Port Arthur Police Department. "I'm in my mother's room right now—please hurry."
The intruders broke through a window and entered Murdock's home. Meanwhile, Murdock stayed on the line with the dispatcher, who instructed the boy to hide in a closet.
"I'm going to have to whisper now because I think they're coming in," Murdock said, adding, "It sounds like there are multiple people."
The dispatcher kept the boy calm on the line, checking on him to make sure he was still there as officers raced to the scene.
"You're doing good, doing real good, doing perfect," she told him. "Your mom's going to be so proud of you."
Once officers arrived, they saw two men flee the home and run into the woods. The two suspects were later caught and arrested, and despite the traumatic ordeal, Murdock was unharmed.
Soothing a 5-Year-Old
A quick-thinking 5-year-old girl from Ridgewood, New Jersey, calmly dialed 911 when her mother began choking on a chip. Chloe Olsen thought she was talking to her father, saying to the dispatcher, "Daddy, Mommy's choking," but her parents and the police say that she did a great job.
"You could tell she was a little concerned and scared," said Police Chief John Ward, adding, "She still knew enough to talk to the dispatchers [and] work it through."
Chloe's mom, Kerry Olson, had stopped choking by the time rescue units arrived, but police said that Chloe may still receive special recognition for her actions.
The Olsons said that police and fire officials also deserve credit—for previously visiting Chloe's school and introducing students to a catchy jingle that tells them, "When there's big trouble and you're all alone, don't be scared; pick up the phone—and dial 911."
Chloe's parents and 8-year-old sister were greatly impressed.
"She did a great job. I'm very happy," said Douglas Olson, Chloe's father.
Here's how the call went:
911 dispatcher: "Where's your emergency? ... Hello?"
Chloe: "Daddy? Hello? Daddy, Mommy's choking."
Dispatcher: "She's choking?"
Chloe: "Yes, she can't talk right now."
Dispatcher: "OK, she can't talk?"
Chloe: "No."
Dispatcher: "OK, can you open the front door, and I'll get help over to you?"
Chloe: "OK."
Dispatcher: "Alright, open the front door. I'll be right there."
Chloe: "Love you, bye."
Chloe said she made the call because she knew it was an emergency. When she hung up, she told her mother, "Daddy's on the way," Kerry Olson said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
use this
Look at page 2 of the Article. Drag the events to put them in the order in which they happened.
intruders entered murdocks home
two suspects were caught and arrested
murdock asked the dispatcher for help quickly
the dispatcher told him he was doing a good job
the officers saw them flee in the woods
murdock called 911..
9 answers
2) Murdock asked the dispatcher for help quickly
3) The dispatcher told him he was doing a good job
4) Intruders entered Murdock's home
5) The officers saw them flee in the woods
6) Two suspects were caught and arrested
1) Murdock called 911.
2) Murdock asked the dispatcher for help quickly.
3) Intruders entered Murdock's home.
4) The dispatcher told him he was doing a good job.
5) The officers saw them flee in the woods.
6) Two suspects were caught and arrested.
1) Murdock called 911.
2) Intruders entered Murdock's home.
3) Murdock asked the dispatcher for help quickly.
4) The dispatcher told him he was doing a good job.
5) The officers saw them flee in the woods.
6) Two suspects were caught and arrested.
1) Murdock called 911.
2) The dispatcher told him he was doing a good job.
3) Intruders entered Murdock's home.
4) The officers saw them flee in the woods.
5) Two suspects were caught and arrested.
Please note that point 3 and point 4 could be interchangeable, depending on the exact sequence of events.
1) Murdock called 911.
2) Murdock asked the dispatcher for help quickly.
3) Intruders entered Murdock's home.
4) The dispatcher told him he was doing a good job.
5) The officers saw them flee in the woods.
6) Two suspects were caught and arrested.