[Bryan]

You raise some interesting points, and probably some unresolvable ones as well.

Stopping to render aid - and that can be medical, phone calls, directing traffic, whatever - is a good thing. I would say if you see something that needs to be done and you are willing to do it, stop and do it. Once you finish or are no longer needed, move on. It's the "looky-loos" who stop to look only that is a problem. There is probably nothing we can do about that. It is not particularly helpful, is probably counterproductive, but it is usually not illegal.

Cell phones are a big help and can be a big problem. TV lies in three counties (Lake, Marion and Sumter). Each has their own police and fire. Lake and Sumter share EMS but Marion has a separate one. To be effective in using your cell phone during an emergency, you need to know where you are. Home landline phones will give the dispatcher your address, cell phones just let them know which cell tower you cell phone connect to.

Too many residents don't even know which county they are physically located in at any point in time. Did you know that driving north or south of 27/441 from Walmart to the Golf Cart Bridge causes you to drive through all three counties. Walmart is in Marion County, Lowes is in Sumter County, and the Golf Cart Bridge is in Lake County.

It would be best to know an address (i.e. 12345 Morse Boulevard) or an intersection (i.e. Morse and El Camino Real) but sometimes the best you can do is a landmark (i.e. near Toojays at Spanish Springs). Dial 911 and give them what info you can. All the dispatch centers can one-button transfer your call to another center if you happen to hit the Marion County Dispatch in Ocala while located in Spanish Springs Town Square.

Best advice I can give on cell 911 calls, before calling try to figure out where you are so you can tell the dispatcher that, remain calm, answer all their questions (even the stupid ones!) and speak slowely and clearly.