11/02/08- 911 calls on hold- azcentral.com

 

Phoenix fire dispatchers claim to be understaffed and that 911 calls from around the Valley are being put on hold.

Frank Piccioli, a dispatcher and labor leader for the Local 2960 chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said Phoenix fire staffed four phone operators on Halloween night - down from the six to 10 preferred on busy nights.

Piccioli pointed to two recent Scottsdale calls as examples of incidents that could have resulted in tragedy:

Feb. 24: A woman called from a Scottsdale restaurant about someone who was choking. She was placed on hold. She called back and was again placed on hold. Piccioli said it was unclear what response was provided or what happened to the victim.

July 20: A woman who called from south Scottsdale was put in a 911 queue as her husband lay unconscious near a pool. The call was picked up at one point by a supervisor, which is not standard practice. Scottsdale police phoned in information ahead of the woman because the call was on hold. The man survived, Piccioli said.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/11/02/20081102alarmroom1103box.html#ixzz1mCYsRz6g

*As always, if you locate any Piccioli's Points in your daily searches that I have missed, please send them to me so I can add them!*