Dear Source:
This morning at about 5:30 AM a car went over a cliff near my house and someone was screaming for help. I immediately called 911, spoke to a person that I could barely hear, who mumbled something and then I was put on hold. After a very long time, I hung up and called the Coral Bay Fire Station who answered right away and responded immediately. I called the EMT's – the phone rang and rang. I got an answering machine from St John Rescue. I didn't even bother calling the police.
This is not the first time that the only person to answer the phone in an emergency has been the Coral Bay Fire Station – thank you guys for doing a great job. Also thanks to St John Rescue who showed up second and got the people off the cliff.
EMT Carol Beckowitz said that they do not have anyone to answer the phone when they are out on another call. Instead of spending more money to staff this job, why don't the various emergency responders get together and use an existing resource? Both Fire Departments and the Myrah Keating Smith Clinic are staffed 24/7. Surely the EMT's can call forward their telephone number to the Fire Department or the clinic? Of course that solution is probably too simple, practical, and cheap – the reality is that departmental egos would probably not allow it to happen.
Pam Gaffin
St. John
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