Calgarians refuse to call 911 for accidents

[RinkRat]

911 could focus a whole lot better on real situations if people didn't call it and tie up the lines for something pathetic like "My son won't get off his computer come take him away" true story.

You would be a disgusted at the types of calls they get up there. So when someone who truly needs help calls they suffer a delay.

[jammies]

I've called 911 once (for this drunk 'lady' who was sitting on the ground in my parking spot when I got home late one night clutching her bruised and possibly broken leg) and the cops/EMS showed up in under 10 minutes and they took my statement right away. Does that anecdote mean 911 service is perfect? No, but neither does anecdotal evidence to the contrary mean it is useless.

[Flames0910]

I think there is lots of evidence of a need for the city and its many branches to shift from administrative services towards a service based philosophy. Especially as this city grows the effects are compounded.

It's been done in other cities to great effect. An example that comes to mind is the metro system in Paris. A change of policy shifted them from administrative focused (taking fares and handing out ticket stubs) to customer focused (enjoyable transportation) and the paradigm shift allowed them to bring in shops, restaurants, etc. making the entire area walkable, safe and enjoyable.

Just a story I've heard (haven't done much research to further investigate) but I've heard other such success stories as well and this one comes from a reliable source. I know some of the politicians in the election are talking about making this kind of shift in council and administration. Might be something to talk about.

Calgarians "refusing" to call 911 is a symptom of a larger problem. First thing they'll tell you in any research or business class - don't confuse the symptom with the problem.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

Some people feel the need to never, ever get involved in a city. It's disgusting to see people ignore others in peril because they're too afraid to create waves.

Is this Canada or New York?!

It's Canada, but carry on thinking you're better than everywhere else.

[BlairWitch]

um....o.k....very smart not to call 911 if a knife was sticking through your eye.....

[Roast Beef]

Originally Posted by Claeren

I really dont want to type the pages and pages it would take to do those experiences justice. On message boards such stories never really translate and people jump to all sorts of conclusions.

Just as an overview, ive been mugged at an ATM by a crackhead and not only been blown off by 911/police (because they just took cash, not my card/pin), but then blown off again when I saw the same person later that night while standing next to a police officer (by random chance). And then waited to get through to 911 because that officer 'was busy', and then waited yet again for hours for a different police officer to show up (then having to call the police line, not 911, 3 more times over 3.5 hours until 5am, and on the 3rd time a police operator saying, 'oh, they told you to wait, um.... let me see if there is someone available to take your statement....') to take a statement that was by then pointless to make. I have followed/called-in drunk drivers (I have 3 similar experiences) who were driving 100+kmph down sidewalks with blown out tires, and then waited for hours to file my statement while the police drank coffee at Tim Hortons as the guy 'who is known to police for drunk driving a lot' sits in the back of the cop car sobering up, all because the 911 operator told me not to leave but police would later say they would not bother filing charges because impounding the guys destroyed truck was enough punishment (I am pretty sure that is not their call to make) and they never realized I was waiting. etc etc

I am not someone who puts up with that sort of thing in any area of my life though, and if the system sucks I just don't engage with that system whenever possible. The core point though is that there is a lot of evidence that 911/emergency response is in shambles right now in Calgary and the tone of that article totally ignores that fact.




Claeren.

Posted at 9:11 am. Awesome!

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

Posted at 9:11 am. Awesome!

wow, good eye man

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by valo403

It's Canada, but carry on thinking you're better than everywhere else.

We're not better than everyone else, just New Yorkers.

[mykalberta]

If I dont have a legal responsibility (withness to accident) then why would I bother calling. If I was remotely close when the accident happened sure, but just driving by an accident without any police, sorry not going to call.

If I had to swerve out of the way of a pedestrian I might call 311 for bylaw services to ticket that person on the road but I wouldnt call 911.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If I dont have a legal responsibility (withness to accident) then why would I bother calling. If I was remotely close when the accident happened sure, but just driving by an accident without any police, sorry not going to call.

If I had to swerve out of the way of a pedestrian I might call 311 for bylaw services to ticket that person on the road but I wouldnt call 911.

Even a pedestrian who's passed out/dead in the middle of a lane on a busy thoroughfare? Cause I can guaruntee 311 is just going to tell you to phone 911.

[DOK]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If I dont have a legal responsibility (withness to accident) then why would I bother calling. If I was remotely close when the accident happened sure, but just driving by an accident without any police, sorry not going to call.

If I had to swerve out of the way of a pedestrian I might call 311 for bylaw services to ticket that person on the road but I wouldnt call 911.

Another shining example of the decency of human nature. Yes, I'm being snarky and using you as an example, it just hurts and sickens me to read such selfishness like this.

This is just a regurgitation of the stampede accident - don't want to get sued for hurting someone - thread.

Why would you bother? Because we care. Each to their own. As said in the other thread, I pray that if I needed help, you weren't the only one to pass by. Doesn't deter me from calling for you though. Not saying I'm better than anyone else, just doing what feels natural and reasonable to me, again, each to their own.

[fredr123]

In this morning's Calgary Sun, there's a column by Michael Platt (not on the online edition for some reason) where he follows up on the story. They asked the traffic Sgt if he actually watched the tape. Well, no. He said his officers watched it and reported it to him. Well, was the body visible to motorists passing by? How many cars went by before someone actually stopped? He didn't know.

So they both watched the tape together. Turns out, you couldn't really see the body just passing by. The car basically looked like any other broken down vehicle on the side of the road. And the third car to pass by actually stopped and called 911.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

We're not better than everyone else, just New Yorkers.

Check the news tab of the Calgary Sun today, 2 of the top 3 stories on the list involve people not stopping or calling for help after accidents. But you're right, it's only an issue in NY.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

If I dont have a legal responsibility (withness to accident) then why would I bother calling. If I was remotely close when the accident happened sure, but just driving by an accident without any police, sorry not going to call.

If I had to swerve out of the way of a pedestrian I might call 311 for bylaw services to ticket that person on the road but I wouldnt call 911.

You're brutal.

[HeartsOfFire]

Ever hear of the Bystander Effect? It's a moniker given to situations just like this one. It's not yet proven, but the idea is that 'In an emergency situation, the likelihood of it being reported to emergency services is inversely proportional to the amount of witnesses on hand.' Meaning the more people that witness a serious accident, the less likely it is that it will be reported.

The reason? Individuals know their own abilities and what assistance they can offer in an emergency situation. If more witnesses are present, the individual assumes that someone in the crowd must be more qualified than they are to take charge.

Another reason why incidents out in the public may not get reported is due to the addition of cell phones. With a majority of people carrying cell phones nowadays, one would think that reports of 911 calls would increase. But it is exactly this kind of thinking that leads to 911 calls not being made because people will think 'someone else must have already called it in, I'd just be tying up a line for someone else with another emergency' or 'They [emergency services] probably already got this reported, no sense in reporting it again.'

Having pondered these scenarios in my head, I make a conscious effort to take charge should an emergency situation arise until someone of authority comes by to relieve me. I've reported collisions, cars abandoned in the middle lane of a busy street, and traffic signals gone so awry that people were ignoring them.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by DOK

Another shining example of the decency of human nature. Yes, I'm being snarky and using you as an example, it just hurts and sickens me to read such selfishness like this.

This is just a regurgitation of the stampede accident - don't want to get sued for hurting someone - thread.

Why would you bother? Because we care. Each to their own. As said in the other thread, I pray that if I needed help, you weren't the only one to pass by. Doesn't deter me from calling for you though. Not saying I'm better than anyone else, just doing what feels natural and reasonable to me, again, each to their own.

Your nobility astounds me. Its nosey busybodies who make ill warranted 911 calls is the reason people cannot get through in a timely manner. It has nothing to do with anything other than knowing my role in society, and that is to call when I witness or am in close time proximity to when an accident happened. 911 is for emergencies, me being the 200th car to pass an accident doesnt warrant me calling 911. If you think it does, great, waste your time and call just to tie up the line for people who might be calling for actual emergencies just so that you can ride around on your high horse.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Your nobility astounds me. Its nosey busybodies who make ill warranted 911 calls is the reason people cannot get through in a timely manner. It has nothing to do with anything other than knowing my role in society, and that is to call when I witness or am in close time proximity to when an accident happened. 911 is for emergencies, me being the 200th car to pass an accident doesnt warrant me calling 911. If you think it does, great, waste your time and call just to tie up the line for people who might be calling for actual emergencies just so that you can ride around on your high horse.

And that's exactly the problem. Everyone assumes that someone before them has called. Unless there's police on the scene, how are you to know that they have in fact been called?

I'm not talking about an accident where you can see that everything is under control - people walking around, checking out the damage, etc.

So if you see a wrecked car on the road and no sign of emergency vehicles or other good samaritans, you'll just continue driving without giving it a second thought?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

Is this Canada or New York?!

I know this is a little off-topic, but I take exception to these types of statements. NYers have shown over and over that they are willing to go out of their way to help those in need, in many cases giving their lives to do so. People here might be more brash and direct than Canadians, but that quality also means that they are willing to go and do what needs to be done.

Just last week, two strangers saved a mans life after he fell on the subway tracks. http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/...subway-tracks/

Also remember this case from a few months ago of a dude running into a burning building to save a crying child. http://gothamist.com/2009/10/01/good...from_burni.php

Oh, and there's that whole 9/11 thing where hundreds ran into a doomed building knowing it would collapse.

These stories happen all the time. Yet people outside of this city seem to make quick assumptions on the few instances were someone walks past a dead hobo (who could easily just be a passed out alcoholic) and automatically assumes people don't give a fata about anyone else.

[worth]

Yeah, I don't think the NY comparison is justified. When I was there I only ran into friendly hospitable people. NY gets a bad rep from the problems that were there in the 80's. The city has come a long way since then, as far as I can tell.

[DOK]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Your nobility astounds me. Its nosey busybodies who make ill warranted 911 calls is the reason people cannot get through in a timely manner. It has nothing to do with anything other than knowing my role in society, and that is to call when I witness or am in close time proximity to when an accident happened. 911 is for emergencies, me being the 200th car to pass an accident doesnt warrant me calling 911. If you think it does, great, waste your time and call just to tie up the line for people who might be calling for actual emergencies just so that you can ride around on your high horse.

Your assuming I call for any ol' reason, another assumption that's wrong. I'd call if it's warranted, I'd call if it's needed. I've called the non emergency line before to help people on the side of the road. It's decency, not a misuse of what's available.

Who are you to decide what warrants an "actual emergency"? If I think someone is in life threatening need, I'll call, that's how I make my judgment. You make your judgments assuming others have called, and I think that's the point of this discussion.