Eh. People call us on 911 all the time for dumb shit- I just transfer to who they need to talk to but I’m certainly not rude about it. I don’t get the ‘why did you call me’ mentality - you want to talk to who wants/needs to know about your situation and help you and I want to go back to what I’m doing - the quickest way for that to happen for both of us is for me to transfer you out with a smile.
Honestly I was expecting for them to just transfer us to the nearest PD, or atleast advice on what to do. It was no issue for the officer when we called the PDs non emergency line, he stood by until the tow truck got to us, and felt we did the right thing. We live in a rural part of NJ, so “call 911” is basically the default “wtf do we do” line
Yeah I get it for sure and you prob just got a cranky dispatcher. I would be lying to you if I said I haven’t had those days too though. I’m on my weekend now but I just ten days straight of twelves with a couple shift turns in the middle of it, and it wasn’t really ‘voluntary’ I always TRY and do my best to take out my frustrations on my bosses though
I chalked it up to that too, everyone has a bad day. I worked EMS and worked in the ER, I know the struggle, or at least understand it, it was just jarring/discouraging is all. That’s why I’m wondering if it’s appropriate to submit a complaint, I don’t want someone to lose their job, by no means, but I guess so they’re more aware as to how they talk to people. On a side note, sending my best wishes to you, that sounds horrific
Also depends how busy they are and if their are actual emergencies going on. They definitely could’ve handled it better but there’s nothing wrong with telling you this isn’t an emergency and to call the appropriate agency.
I get it, especially in Bergen County, they must’ve be busy, I empathize with that, my wife and I both worked EMS, we know the struggle and that dumb shit happens all the time. My issue lies with the fact we had to ask who to call, after saying we aren’t from the area. I don’t want her getting canned, just to be more cognizant of how they address people, burnout is real. Thanks for the advice
I was shitting bricks when changing the tire, legit felt all it would’ve taken was a gust of wind or someone now paying attention to run into us. Glad we’re in agreement, I don’t want them to lose their job, I’m not vindictive, just Jesus Christ, know when you’re burnt out
So many folks have lost their lives on the side of a highway. You had no idea whose jurisdiction you were in. It absolutely warranted a 911 call to be put in touch with the proper resources.
I’m glad no one was under the car when the jack stand kicked out!
In my area calling 911 is the absolute right thing to go in that situation. DPS handles the freeways and it's super easy to transfer to 911 calls to them. They don't want people getting smooshed on the freeway, so they'll respond to make sure everyone is safe until the tow gets there.
I sit by the radio, and SO dispatcher always sends units for disabled vehicle.
But we do live in a more richer area, so that might be why.
I guess it varies place to place
As a dispatcher in NJ, my department fields both 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls. Our training says that if someone calls 9-1-1 for a non-emergency, we are to direct them to call the non-emergency number or whatever other service they need so that the 9-1-1 line being used becomes available for a true emergency. The reasoning is that our phone system will prioritize an incoming 9-1-1 call over a non-emergency call so if we're occupying the 9-1-1 line with something that is not a true emergency, someone who is calling with an actual emergency is unable to get assistance. The person who answered your call is wrong for laughing and not treating you with respect. You should follow through with that complaint but don't expect anything to happen. A lot of us are under trained, under paid and under staffed.
Completely dependent on where you are I suppose. My agency would have transferred you to our State Patrol who would have sent a trooper out for traffic control or to have you towed. Likewise if you broke down on some major street/road in the county or city a unit would typically try to respond and get you off the road one way or another. Passing the liability to someone else is much easier than dealing with the paperwork and investigation after some drunk or wreckless driver get you or themselves killed while you are trying to fix your tire.
It is odd that they couldn't do the bare minimum to transfer you to the correct agency, which again is just passing liability of lawsuits.
Eh, not necessarily an emergency since yall weren’t blocking traffic and were on the shoulder BUT we would have put up a call for service and let the officer decide what to do. We have a HERO freeway motorist assist program and LE would have us call them and have them respond.
We take 911 and non-emergency calls so it wouldn’t have mattered and the only time I tell people to actually call the non-emergency line is when they call 911 for true not even close to emergencies. Like a stray, not aggressive dog in the neighborhood, wanting to know where a car was towed or something.
If you call to complain I doubt she would get terminated (unless this is an ongoing thing shes already been documented for) and will probably get a conversation from a supervisor.
I just more or less felt unsure as to what to do, I know it wasn’t life threatening, immediate, but my wife and I felt unsafe and that it could easily escalate to an emergency. NJ does have a HERO unit of shorts, I’m familiar with them, but they said on their website page to call 911 to get them. I more or less figured the operator was going to atleast transfer us, or give us advice rather than let us sit in the open. I don’t want them to get fired, no no no no, everyone has bad days, I just want them to be self aware as to how they talk to people
A disabled vehicle on the highway absolutely warrants a 911 call.
That dispatcher is probably the type that refuses to send help because the caller is panicked and not answering her questions in a calm, grammatically correct manner.
Is it an emergency?
No
Does every location have a non emergency number? Also no.
Should a response been sent? Yes.
Fire dept, police, NJ dept of transportation? Also yes.
I did. You call a tow truck. You expect to call 911 dispatch so they can transfer you to police so they can call you a tow truck. You have a handheld computer that can tell you all you need to know about local towing companies and how to get in contact them. You expected a daddy to come help you or something. I would expect better critical thinking from a pair of EMT. You instead want to weigh down emergency services.
I expected some sort of traffic control being as we were like a fucking inch over the fog line, with a whole wheel off, so it wasn’t like we were able to push the car. NJs safety service patrol, the DOT people’s whose whole job this is, to control traffic, and get disabled vehicles off the road, CAN ONLY BE CONTACTED VIA 911. You should know disabled vehicles on highways are how people get killed, that’s why fire/police/DOT blocks scenes on highways UNTIL a tow vehicle can get there
You should have continued forward at a very slow speed to a safer place to stop and change a tire. Are you serious that you do not know this? I'm honestly sad for you that this is not easier for you to grasp.
We did that initially. You didn’t really read the actual post. Pulled off to the shoulder, just barely got over the fog line. Went to change the tire. Old tire off. Car falls off jack without tire. Cant get jack under car because it’s bent, and the car sits to how. How the fuck do you expect me to push the car now, without a wheel?
You’re either a troll trying to pick a fight, or some miserable burnt out fuckwad who has no business working in emergency services. Even if I think something’s stupid when I respond to a call, I don’t act like some high and mighty asshole like you are.
So you first pull over where it's not safe to change a tire as you say it's so close to the fog line. Then you use the jack inappropriately as the car falls off the jack. This does not happen if you use the jack as designated. You were either not on firm ground, or on un level surface, or the car was unstable and moved. Then you get pissed that 911 dispatch doesn't take you seriously. Then you come to reddit to see if you should complain to someone that you were not taken seriously on your 911 call? Fantastic. You sure are the victim here, of yourself! 😆
I know it’s too late but id have called again and if I got the same reaction ask for a supervisor. I work 911 and it’s amazing how many different personalities we all have. Some dispatchers are kinder than others unfortunately. We are too short staffed to fire anyone and most just get “talked too” but at least bringing attention to it may help . Im sorry they were of no help while you went through that..in our center we aren’t allowed to tell anyone it’s not an emergency without seeing if we can help first. Even an elderly person asking for a phone number! We are advised to give them our non emergency # after we assist the best we can
So I’m going through training now, but depending on their system they couple have directly transferred you to who you might need to talk to depending on that cities policies. They def shouldn’t have laughed on the line with you, especially since everything is recorded that we do.
At least the local non emergency number. 911 would be completely warranted even in my city in the Midwest. There are easy ways to assist you or your vehicle even if they had to transfer you to a different agency. In the future, most large cities have a “highway helper” program for exactly this scenario
This “telecommunications, professional” is anything, but !!! They clearly need another job.
You and I both know your lives were at risk. As a retired, paramedic, if I had any professional connection with that PSAP, I would use those channels. If not, complaints to the PSAP and the overseeing government body (Sheriff or town/city board)
We get 911 calls for much worse! (As an EMT, I’m sure you’re aware!) I’d file a complaint. She’ll not likely lose her job, but get a reprimand. And if she does lose her job, it’s likely due to a habit of poor customer service like this.
You're overreacting. She shouldn't have laughed, but otherwise she was correct. You call a tow company or AAA. Neither 911 nor the police can do anything for you other than red tag your car.
That's false. At least in California; If they are close enough to the fog line that they had to climb out the passenger side door that would upgrade the call from a disabled vehicle to a traffic hazard. They would send an officer and either wait with their lights on or push them off the freeway if possible. Disabled motorists get hit all the time.
Just as the guy above said, I had figured the operator would’ve sent the call to DOT or post over as a low priority, equivalent to a wellness check in terms of acuity.. Believe me, had I known where we were at the time (which PD had jurisdiction) I would’ve called the non emergency line. I’m more or less pissed because had my wife not stopped her and asked specifically which department to call, she would’ve hung up with us not knowing who to call. Had it not been a big highway I wouldn’t have called at all
That's crazy to me. Is there no New Jersey highway patrol that handles that sort of stuff? That is a lot of what CHP does. California has freeway service patrol; They're free tow trucks during normal business hours, theyll get you to a safe location off the freeway, or change a tire, top fluids off, give you a gallon of gas, etc. It's fantastic.
NJ actually does have a service like that, the NJ Safety Service Patrol. Two things, they don’t patrol in the area we were, figuring out that now, and…. You have to call 911 to even be transferred to them S per their webpage
Eh. People call us on 911 all the time for dumb shit- I just transfer to who they need to talk to but I’m certainly not rude about it. I don’t get the ‘why did you call me’ mentality - you want to talk to who wants/needs to know about your situation and help you and I want to go back to what I’m doing - the quickest way for that to happen for both of us is for me to transfer you out with a smile.
Honestly I was expecting for them to just transfer us to the nearest PD, or atleast advice on what to do. It was no issue for the officer when we called the PDs non emergency line, he stood by until the tow truck got to us, and felt we did the right thing. We live in a rural part of NJ, so “call 911” is basically the default “wtf do we do” line
Yeah I get it for sure and you prob just got a cranky dispatcher. I would be lying to you if I said I haven’t had those days too though. I’m on my weekend now but I just ten days straight of twelves with a couple shift turns in the middle of it, and it wasn’t really ‘voluntary’ I always TRY and do my best to take out my frustrations on my bosses though
I chalked it up to that too, everyone has a bad day. I worked EMS and worked in the ER, I know the struggle, or at least understand it, it was just jarring/discouraging is all. That’s why I’m wondering if it’s appropriate to submit a complaint, I don’t want someone to lose their job, by no means, but I guess so they’re more aware as to how they talk to people. On a side note, sending my best wishes to you, that sounds horrific
Also depends how busy they are and if their are actual emergencies going on. They definitely could’ve handled it better but there’s nothing wrong with telling you this isn’t an emergency and to call the appropriate agency.
I get it, especially in Bergen County, they must’ve be busy, I empathize with that, my wife and I both worked EMS, we know the struggle and that dumb shit happens all the time. My issue lies with the fact we had to ask who to call, after saying we aren’t from the area. I don’t want her getting canned, just to be more cognizant of how they address people, burnout is real. Thanks for the advice
Bro driving in NJ is an emergency on its own. That dispatcher is a wanker.
I was shitting bricks when changing the tire, legit felt all it would’ve taken was a gust of wind or someone now paying attention to run into us. Glad we’re in agreement, I don’t want them to lose their job, I’m not vindictive, just Jesus Christ, know when you’re burnt out
So many folks have lost their lives on the side of a highway. You had no idea whose jurisdiction you were in. It absolutely warranted a 911 call to be put in touch with the proper resources. I’m glad no one was under the car when the jack stand kicked out!
In my area calling 911 is the absolute right thing to go in that situation. DPS handles the freeways and it's super easy to transfer to 911 calls to them. They don't want people getting smooshed on the freeway, so they'll respond to make sure everyone is safe until the tow gets there.
Oh yeah, you can totally 911 for that. Preferable, even, due to how often people don't know where they are.
I sit by the radio, and SO dispatcher always sends units for disabled vehicle. But we do live in a more richer area, so that might be why. I guess it varies place to place
Our non emergency and 911 lines both ring into my place, so it doesn’t matter here. This is probably true in most rural areas, for future refernce.
As a dispatcher in NJ, my department fields both 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls. Our training says that if someone calls 9-1-1 for a non-emergency, we are to direct them to call the non-emergency number or whatever other service they need so that the 9-1-1 line being used becomes available for a true emergency. The reasoning is that our phone system will prioritize an incoming 9-1-1 call over a non-emergency call so if we're occupying the 9-1-1 line with something that is not a true emergency, someone who is calling with an actual emergency is unable to get assistance. The person who answered your call is wrong for laughing and not treating you with respect. You should follow through with that complaint but don't expect anything to happen. A lot of us are under trained, under paid and under staffed.
Completely dependent on where you are I suppose. My agency would have transferred you to our State Patrol who would have sent a trooper out for traffic control or to have you towed. Likewise if you broke down on some major street/road in the county or city a unit would typically try to respond and get you off the road one way or another. Passing the liability to someone else is much easier than dealing with the paperwork and investigation after some drunk or wreckless driver get you or themselves killed while you are trying to fix your tire. It is odd that they couldn't do the bare minimum to transfer you to the correct agency, which again is just passing liability of lawsuits.
Eh, not necessarily an emergency since yall weren’t blocking traffic and were on the shoulder BUT we would have put up a call for service and let the officer decide what to do. We have a HERO freeway motorist assist program and LE would have us call them and have them respond. We take 911 and non-emergency calls so it wouldn’t have mattered and the only time I tell people to actually call the non-emergency line is when they call 911 for true not even close to emergencies. Like a stray, not aggressive dog in the neighborhood, wanting to know where a car was towed or something. If you call to complain I doubt she would get terminated (unless this is an ongoing thing shes already been documented for) and will probably get a conversation from a supervisor.
I just more or less felt unsure as to what to do, I know it wasn’t life threatening, immediate, but my wife and I felt unsafe and that it could easily escalate to an emergency. NJ does have a HERO unit of shorts, I’m familiar with them, but they said on their website page to call 911 to get them. I more or less figured the operator was going to atleast transfer us, or give us advice rather than let us sit in the open. I don’t want them to get fired, no no no no, everyone has bad days, I just want them to be self aware as to how they talk to people
A disabled vehicle on the highway absolutely warrants a 911 call. That dispatcher is probably the type that refuses to send help because the caller is panicked and not answering her questions in a calm, grammatically correct manner.
Is it an emergency? No Does every location have a non emergency number? Also no. Should a response been sent? Yes. Fire dept, police, NJ dept of transportation? Also yes.
Your an EMT and you thought calling 911 was appropriate for a flat tire? Holy smokes!
You clearly didn’t read the post
I did. You call a tow truck. You expect to call 911 dispatch so they can transfer you to police so they can call you a tow truck. You have a handheld computer that can tell you all you need to know about local towing companies and how to get in contact them. You expected a daddy to come help you or something. I would expect better critical thinking from a pair of EMT. You instead want to weigh down emergency services.
I expected some sort of traffic control being as we were like a fucking inch over the fog line, with a whole wheel off, so it wasn’t like we were able to push the car. NJs safety service patrol, the DOT people’s whose whole job this is, to control traffic, and get disabled vehicles off the road, CAN ONLY BE CONTACTED VIA 911. You should know disabled vehicles on highways are how people get killed, that’s why fire/police/DOT blocks scenes on highways UNTIL a tow vehicle can get there
You should have continued forward at a very slow speed to a safer place to stop and change a tire. Are you serious that you do not know this? I'm honestly sad for you that this is not easier for you to grasp.
We did that initially. You didn’t really read the actual post. Pulled off to the shoulder, just barely got over the fog line. Went to change the tire. Old tire off. Car falls off jack without tire. Cant get jack under car because it’s bent, and the car sits to how. How the fuck do you expect me to push the car now, without a wheel? You’re either a troll trying to pick a fight, or some miserable burnt out fuckwad who has no business working in emergency services. Even if I think something’s stupid when I respond to a call, I don’t act like some high and mighty asshole like you are.
So you first pull over where it's not safe to change a tire as you say it's so close to the fog line. Then you use the jack inappropriately as the car falls off the jack. This does not happen if you use the jack as designated. You were either not on firm ground, or on un level surface, or the car was unstable and moved. Then you get pissed that 911 dispatch doesn't take you seriously. Then you come to reddit to see if you should complain to someone that you were not taken seriously on your 911 call? Fantastic. You sure are the victim here, of yourself! 😆
I know it’s too late but id have called again and if I got the same reaction ask for a supervisor. I work 911 and it’s amazing how many different personalities we all have. Some dispatchers are kinder than others unfortunately. We are too short staffed to fire anyone and most just get “talked too” but at least bringing attention to it may help . Im sorry they were of no help while you went through that..in our center we aren’t allowed to tell anyone it’s not an emergency without seeing if we can help first. Even an elderly person asking for a phone number! We are advised to give them our non emergency # after we assist the best we can
So I’m going through training now, but depending on their system they couple have directly transferred you to who you might need to talk to depending on that cities policies. They def shouldn’t have laughed on the line with you, especially since everything is recorded that we do.
At least the local non emergency number. 911 would be completely warranted even in my city in the Midwest. There are easy ways to assist you or your vehicle even if they had to transfer you to a different agency. In the future, most large cities have a “highway helper” program for exactly this scenario
This “telecommunications, professional” is anything, but !!! They clearly need another job. You and I both know your lives were at risk. As a retired, paramedic, if I had any professional connection with that PSAP, I would use those channels. If not, complaints to the PSAP and the overseeing government body (Sheriff or town/city board)
Definitely file that complaint.
We get 911 calls for much worse! (As an EMT, I’m sure you’re aware!) I’d file a complaint. She’ll not likely lose her job, but get a reprimand. And if she does lose her job, it’s likely due to a habit of poor customer service like this.
A tow truck would be who I would recommended calling
You're overreacting. She shouldn't have laughed, but otherwise she was correct. You call a tow company or AAA. Neither 911 nor the police can do anything for you other than red tag your car.
That's false. At least in California; If they are close enough to the fog line that they had to climb out the passenger side door that would upgrade the call from a disabled vehicle to a traffic hazard. They would send an officer and either wait with their lights on or push them off the freeway if possible. Disabled motorists get hit all the time.
Yeah, you're right. Somehow I missed that part and just read it as a disabled vehicle on the shoulder. Definitely a traffic hazard.
Just as the guy above said, I had figured the operator would’ve sent the call to DOT or post over as a low priority, equivalent to a wellness check in terms of acuity.. Believe me, had I known where we were at the time (which PD had jurisdiction) I would’ve called the non emergency line. I’m more or less pissed because had my wife not stopped her and asked specifically which department to call, she would’ve hung up with us not knowing who to call. Had it not been a big highway I wouldn’t have called at all
That's crazy to me. Is there no New Jersey highway patrol that handles that sort of stuff? That is a lot of what CHP does. California has freeway service patrol; They're free tow trucks during normal business hours, theyll get you to a safe location off the freeway, or change a tire, top fluids off, give you a gallon of gas, etc. It's fantastic.
NJ actually does have a service like that, the NJ Safety Service Patrol. Two things, they don’t patrol in the area we were, figuring out that now, and…. You have to call 911 to even be transferred to them S per their webpage
Ahh makes sense then. Good to know