Friday, January 27, 2006
What's Write is Right !
800 Meggy Hurts User: Good Afternoodles Blah-g Readers !
911: Repeat
800 Meggy Hurts User: I need everyone to do the Blah-ger a favor.
911: Repeat
800 Meggy Hurts User: We need everyone to write to our Westmoreland Co. (WC) Commissioners to let them know how BAD this Radio System Really Is ! Please send a copy of your letter to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and your local State Representatives too.
911: 10-9 (which means “Repeat”)
800 Meggy Hurts User: Without letting the Blah-ger put words into your mouth, please explain to the Commissioners exactly what you are (and are not) hearing, things you feel should be corrected and any experiences you might have had with the many DEAD SPOTS, repeater busy tones, dead batteries, poor reception and everything and anything else you can think of.
911: Repeat that last transmission
800 Meggy Hurts User: Thanks for your time.
911: 10-4, the correct time is 02:50.
You might say that you have no idea what the addresses are for PEMA, the WC commissioners and my state representative are. It just so happens that I know what they are so I’ll post them at the bottom of this Blah-g.
Just as Commissioner Phil Light told me on the phone, I’m the first one he has heard from that has stated there are problems with the radio system.
Gee Golly Uncle Wally I just can’t find it in my heart to believe him.
Normally I will believe someone at their word until proven otherwise however saying that I am the FIRST, naw. Come on Phil, maybe the second or third… or the first one in the last month or two, but not the VERY FIRST PERSON. So, write to Commissioner Light and let’s see if you are also the FIRST one too.
In the last Blah-g I had mentioned that Sam Bray, the winner of this months Blah-ger Tips CD Contest and also a member of several EMS Services had made a comment to the effect that everyone that sends tips to the Blah-g can’t have the same name... ANONYMOUS.
For the record he sent me another email on Thursday, this time giving me a direct quote to be published.
- - -
How is it possible for the dispatchers to lose their job if they have there "opinions" about the 800 quoted? I think that would be a bit illegal don't you think? Hostile work environment if you ask me.
This is a domacracy, not a dictatorship!!!
Freedom of speech in the good ole USA!!!
But I guess that doesn't apply for the people that made WC use this system. Is the Westmoreland Co. Department of Emergency Management's MANAGEMENT affraid of "LOSING" their jobs if the dispatchers start letting everyone know about the problems, so they have to threaten our wonderful dispatchers jobs?!!
Look what happened with ENRON. Maybe it will happen with WC.
- Sam Bray
- - -
Nicely put. Now, how many police officers will come home from their long shift and type out a letter to “their” commissioners, how many firemen will do the same thing in between rescue and fire calls ?
We have plenty of EMS drivers and medics that use the “ 800 System “, your words are just as important as the next. Maybe more so as you will be the ones trying to call Medic Command on these 800 Mhz radios soon.
Right now only Frick Hospital is using the 800 Medic Command in their ER but soon they all will.
A doctor is far too busy to try and understand what you are saying while the ambulance is rolling in and out of DEAD SPOTS. Everyone that uses these radios are familiar with “ DROPPED WORDS “ when their radio begins to GARBLE UP.
The difference between Coherent and Incoherent is “In”, with that prefix dropped it changes the status of a patient, right ? How many other medical terms can you think of that just by changing the beginning of the word changes the whole patient size up ?
That is what we have with DIGITAL AUDIO and DEAD SPOTS !
I once heard a police officer give another officer the time. It happened to be 13 minutes after 10 AM, or 10-13. 911 didn’t hear anything about the time, the only thing they pulled out of the garble was 10-13 ( which means OFFICER DOWN ). I also heard 911 ask an officer if a Code 3 ( emergency condition on that frequency ) was needed when the officer found an open door one evening. The officer clearly said “ negative “. 911 then said “CODE 3 on this frequency”.
Clearly the word negative was lost in the DIGITAL GARBLE DUE TO A DEAD SPOT. That audio clip is on my website Audio Clips Section.
So, who is going to drop a short letter to your commissioners this weekend ?
You don't have to say much.
How about “The Westmoreland County Emergency Management’s New Radio System Does Not Work. Please Have It Fixed.”
I might add that our county does NOT have an independent board to oversee this system and our directors.
Sure would be nice to have a three man / woman team to watch over our 911 Directors SPENDING BUDGET and EQUIPMENT CONDITION to make sure OUR money isn’t going towards elegant dinners when we have 911 Dispatching Consoles OUT OF ORDER and in need of repair, NEW TOWER SITES not new vehicles, New Computer Software not another Communications VAN… get the idea.
You might want to mention that in your letter too.
Sam Bray has told me he is going to write, how about you ?
As most of you know, my first name is also Sam. Two Sam’s against the county for the betterment of a properly working communications system for our first offenders… we can and must do better than that in numbers.
For the longest time it felt as if I was carrying this torch myself ( and I don’t even use the DAMN radios, thank GOD ) and now it appears there is HELP.
Would you please join us !
Here are the addresses you will need to send your letters:
Westmoreland County Commissioners
Courthouse Square, Suite 101
2 North Main Street
Greensburg, Pa. 15601
Senate of Pennsylvania
Senator Bob Regola
240-1/2 Robbins Station Road
North Huntingdon, Pa. 15642
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
Attn: Michelle Musser
2605 Interstate Drive
Harrisburg, Pa. 17110
Write your letters now while it is on the forefront of your cranium, it could save your life !
While you are at it how about dropping me an email with a copy of the letter you wrote for my records or publication ( your decision – anonymous or not, published or not ). This is not necessary however I would like to see how many are actually writing. At least let me know that you have written… and thanks in advance.
Until next time on this same talkgroup, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND !
Decoded,
K3SAM
http://800.k3sam.com – website
news@k3sam.com – comments / tips / letters / numbers / inside stuff !
www.k3sam.com/800/911Past.html - 1984 911 Information
