Strange phone call

tommymac · 12-28-2010, 10:45 AM

Working in an inner city er you get some interesting and stupid phone calls at all hours.

Yesterday was a good one. Due to the snow storm EMS had a hard if not impossible time getting aroun dor getting people to the ER's. We had heard of 3 peopel who arrested and died either at home or in route due to the uber slow response times.

So someone calls and tells us a family member had died and could we come and pick up the body. I guess calling the city ME or a funeral home didnt cross their minds. Given the road conditions in brooklyn I got a feeling the body may be there a while unless they live on or near a main road.

Cass · 12-28-2010, 11:17 AM

That's one of those things that you don't normally think about what to do, or who to call, until you've had to deal with it.

Archren · 12-28-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cass

That's one of those things that you don't normally think about what to do, or who to call, until you've had to deal with it.

Indeed. Thankfully before my dad passed away, he had arranged it to where his body would be picked up by a company that takes donor parts and tissue samples for cancer research, and then cremates the body for the family. If he hadn't done any sort of prep... I'm not sure my mom and I would have really known what to do, particularly when you're confused and wrought with grief.

Homeslice · 12-28-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommymac

I guess calling the city ME or a funeral home didnt cross their minds.

Calling a funeral home involves costs. Can't have that.

tommymac · 12-28-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Calling a funeral home involves costs. Can't have that.

true. In NY theres a 311 system to deal with stuf flike that to take some work of fthe 911 operators (you wouldnt believe the stuff people call 911 for) I would think to start there. Its not like the hospital is going to dispatch a vehicle to pick up[a body, the funeral homes ME or whoever come to the hospital to pick up the bodies if anything.

Archren · 12-28-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommymac

true. In NY theres a 311 system to deal with stuf flike that to take some work of fthe 911 operators (you wouldnt believe the stuff people call 911 for) I would think to start there. Its not like the hospital is going to dispatch a vehicle to pick up[a body, the funeral homes ME or whoever come to the hospital to pick up the bodies if anything.

My mom is one of those people who calls 911 for stupid shit. Even AFTER I told her not to... she called 911 because someone in the neighborhood didn't have a fence to contain their stupid little yappy dog. I guess my word wasn't good enough... she had to hear it from the horse's mouth.

This is why I could never be a 911 operator.. I'd snap on those people. "Are you out of your freaking mind!? That constitutes an EMERGENCY?? Please go kill yourself. I'll send the ME's office to come clean the mess shortly."

tommymac · 12-28-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archren

My mom is one of those people who calls 911 for stupid shit. Even AFTER I told her not to... she called 911 because someone in the neighborhood didn't have a fence to contain their stupid little yappy dog. I guess my word wasn't good enough... she had to hear it from the horse's mouth.

This is why I could never be a 911 operator.. I'd snap on those people. "Are you out of your freaking mind!? That constitutes an EMERGENCY?? Please go kill yourself. I'll send the ME's office to come clean the mess shortly."

Thats like some of the ones EMS brings to the hospital, ok you have a cold and called the ambulance. Go sit in the waiting room for 6 hrs and after I am done playing on the internet eating dinner and taking a nap I will see you, tell you that you have a cold and to go home and dont even think of asking for a doctors note

Amber Lamps · 12-28-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Calling a funeral home involves costs. Can't have that.

I called 911 when I came home and found my finance' dead... We can't all be geniuses...besides, since when did calling an ambulance become free?

I guess I could have called a funeral home but that never occurred to me.

Kaneman · 12-28-2010, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

I called 911 when I came home and found my finance' dead... We can't all be geniuses...besides, since when did calling an ambulance become free?

I guess I could have called a funeral home but that never occurred to me.

That's quite a bit different than having someone die who's been wasting from disease for some time. In fact, I'm 100% sure the funeral home would've told you to call 911.

Dave · 12-28-2010, 11:44 AM

Shoulda rolled to their house with a chainsaw and a bunch of shoeboxes...

12-28-2010, 10:45 AM	#1
tommymac Moto GP Star Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11,022	Strange phone call Working in an inner city er you get some interesting and stupid phone calls at all hours. Yesterday was a good one. Due to the snow storm EMS had a hard if not impossible time getting aroun dor getting people to the ER's. We had heard of 3 peopel who arrested and died either at home or in route due to the uber slow response times. So someone calls and tells us a family member had died and could we come and pick up the body. I guess calling the city ME or a funeral home didnt cross their minds. Given the road conditions in brooklyn I got a feeling the body may be there a while unless they live on or near a main road.

12-28-2010, 11:17 AM	#2
Cass Cassolicious! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, TX Moto: SV Posts: 1,377	That's one of those things that you don't normally think about what to do, or who to call, until you've had to deal with it. __________________ Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

12-28-2010, 11:44 AM	#10
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	Shoulda rolled to their house with a chainsaw and a bunch of shoeboxes...