I get the same reaction pretty much every time I tell someone where I work. "Oh you work at 911, you must hear some really crazy things!" I always have to admit that crazy is certainly something I deal with daily. Inevitably, people then want to know what the craziest thing is that I've ever heard.
To be honest, the thing that blows my mind on the most regular basis is people not knowing where they are. I can understand if you have been kidnapped and stuffed in a trunk that you might not know where you are. Or if you have been knocked unconscious I can accept that you might not know where you are. Other than that, you have to know where you are. I can work with any other lack of information but I have to know where you are.
I get a lot of blank looks when this is my first complaint. Almost universally the response I get is this. "Well, can't you just trace my cell phone?" This drives me nuts. I'll be honest, yes, if you call 911 there is the chance that we can trace you. But what if that isn't working? What if it takes precious minutes or hours to track you down and you lose your life? Why would you be willing to trust your very life to technology working correctly? This is really not a good idea. One computer having a bad day or storm cloud interrupting the signal can mean you are not found in time.
Long story short, pay attention. Whether you are driving, walking, or riding with someone, watch where you are going. Look at street signs. Make a note of landmarks. Keep track of how long you are traveling. Any one piece of information can be what helps a 911 dispatcher get correct directions to the person who is trying to help you. Don't let your obituary read, "He died because the storm interfered with cell tracking. If only he had paid attention."
