Medical emergencies in the Villages.

[Taltarzac]

Over the past month or so, I have driven past scenes where a man or a woman has collapsed on a golf path-- either from a golf cart, bike, or as a runner-- which also have a large number of Good Samaritans trying to help. The first time there were about a half dozen golf carts pulled off on El Camino Real near the end of Enrique Drive.

Yesterday it was just off of Morse Blvd at the intersection of Rio Grande and Lisbon Lane.


I have not stopped because I have no medical training and assume someone in the helping crowd has a cell phone.

Here's a link to 911 and cell phones. http://firstaid.about.com/od/callingforhelp/bb/cell911.htm

The last couple of times I have driven past these crowds of Samaritans though I have worried that these people might also be creating a hazard to other vehicles trying to get by like the very medical emergency response vehicles you hope respond to a 911 call ASAP.

Unless you have medical training I hope you drive on by as carefully as possible but pay attention to see if you think someone in the group of Good Samaritans has contacted 911.

Both times this past month, the medical response teams were in route to the fallen. They passed on by as I was leaving the area of the emergencies.

[nONIE]

Thankyou Tal for this valuable information. I often wondered about 911 calls from a cell phone.

[Taltarzac]

Thankyou Tal for this valuable information. I often wondered about 911 calls from a cell phone.

I have often wondered if many golfers in TV have their cell phones along with them?

I did worry that no one had contacted 911 because of the number of people who had gathered at the place where the person has fallen.

[spk7951]

Another idea is to add The Villages Fire Dept phone number to your cell phone speed dial along with Sumter and Lake County Sheriffs numbers. This may be better for folks who have a cell phone with an out of state number. I am not sure if an out of state cell number dialing 911 gets through to the local emergency numbers as quickly as a local exchange number.

[Dirigo]

I have often wondered if many golfers in TV have their cell phones along with them?

I did worry that no one had contacted 911 because of the number of people who had gathered at the place where the person has fallen.

I can't speak for golfers in TV, but I always put my cell phone in a zippered pocket of my golf bag for such emergencies.

Dirigo

[sschuler1]

A few years ago I witnessed a bus side swipe a guy on a bicycle with their side view mirror while we were in Orlando. We pulled over and immediately called 911. My cell phone was directed to the Orlando 911 center almost instantly. So, it doesn't seem to matter that my cell phone number is from the Detroit area.

[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.

[faithfulfrank]

Good advice.
I would only add Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. They might not have understood you, or they may want to give you instructions or have other questions.

Most dispatchers now have "EMD", which stands for Emergency Medical Dispatch......if you are willing to help, they can walk anyone through any medical emergency and tell you what to do.

Frank D.

[Hawkwind]

I may be wrong on this but wasn't a law passed that all cell phones made after a certain date (couple of years ago) had to have GPS locater options included in the unit. This law was passed to allow a person to make an emergency call from anywhere and the dispatcher could find their location. This would solve the problem with using your call phone outside your registered call area. Would also help resolve the three county location question.

The GPS function I am referring to is not one used for personal use such as finding restaurants. I know by old Sanyo cell phone and my current Blackberry both have this feature.

[captain1202]

Calling 911 from a celphone gets you to the closest 911 center based on your location as triangulated through the cell towers. The center you reach should be able to connect you with correct emergency services in the area.
I had an instance where I was calling 911 for a serious (unfortunately fatal) accident that occurred in right in front of me. I was not exactly sure of the location and asked for emergency services from the wrong town. The 911 operator said they had me located at "X" and that it didn't jibe with the town I was asking for. The location they gave was within a few hundred yards of my actual location. My phone does not have GPS so in this case they must have triangulated from the towers. After confirming the correct location The correct services showed up. Great technology!

[Taltarzac]

I may be wrong on this but wasn't a law passed that all cell phones made after a certain date (couple of years ago) had to have GPS locater options included in the unit. This law was passed to allow a person to make an emergency call from anywhere and the dispatcher could find their location. This would solve the problem with using your call phone outside your registered call area. Would also help resolve the three county location question.

The GPS function I am referring to is not one used for personal use such as finding restaurants. I know by old Sanyo cell phone and my current Blackberry both have this feature.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html

[Peggy D]

...And don't forget to add an ICE (In Case of Emergency) phone # to your cell phone.

The ER dept uses the cell phone on the person as first line of contact.