@@lewiskunst1089 round 3:05 got got me pausing this and looking at the celling, how horrible and so tragic. Surely we will pray for all people because the real enemy is unseen (Ephesians 6:12) ✝️✝️🤍🤍
@@notyourfriend2648Can you please try to understand things in context? They can give instructions on how to do CPR, but not instructions on whether you should fire your gun or not.
@@notyourfriend2648 They can’t give instruction based on their own opinion. They can give instruction based on factual information. Such as the steps to perform cpr, instruction on slowing or stopping bleeding, etc.
Fact: a 911 operator helped my wife save my life 11 years ago. She talked her through CPR and kept her calm. A month later we tried to track her down so we could thank her, but the system wouldn’t give out her name or info. She remains an anonymous guardian angel.
When I graduated high-school I became a 911 operator. I only lasted 10 months. I started having these horrible panic attacks and would come home crying every night. I finally couldn't take it anymore and stepped down. I'm not even 20 and got diagnosed with panic disorder and ptsd. Every word this man said is true.
is the disconnecting calls necessarily true? I figure 911 operators would try to find landmarks and street signs, etc for address. hanging up doesn’t sound right. I would figure that if there is an emergency, 911 will try their everything to find the location.
@@debradowner8761 He said sometimes theres more lines on hold than people able to take calls , so if someone spends an hour on one call that might be three or four calls they never get to.
@@debradowner8761that’s exactly what i was thinking. like for suicide it takes a lot to convince them most of the time. they should at least have better technology and more staff but i guess its a very difficult job but still doesn’t make sense to me.
That's not how that works. At least now a days. There are ways to triangulate, ping, and track numbers. If someone is in danger you do not disconnect help.
Hahahaha. Total female narcissism. You call him the "first first responders" so that you don't have to call yourself the "second responder". You somehow managed to make this about you.
Kind of…. This guy has to listen to the people die, get shot, get raped, as it’s happening, you get there during the aftermath. I’m sure you’ve seen death. But operators hear hundreds of gruesome live leak esque scenarios that are happening within 20 miles of them.
You're not wrong - it would def be a more helpless feeling only hearing it and not being able to do anything. Not always do we get there "during the aftermath" though. Sometimes we are there "during". I've been haunted by the noises but being in the environment to use all your senses to take it in, is also a very different and haunting place to be.@@seancorbett8777
I wanna call mostly bullshit on this one. I have a hard time believing 911 operators training consists of: “If you can’t get a location of a distressed caller, just hang up as you might be able to better help the next caller.” I’d bet my entire yearly salary that nor anything close is found in ANY operator handbook in ANY part of ANY western country. And for the record, I have no experience, knowledge, or idea how, when, why, or what it’s like to be a 911 operator. That being said, it’s sad to think that there are operators out there like this clown who have become desensitized, jaded, &/or lack enough, if any, empathy for the person on the other end of the phone to whom you are their very last thread of hope in their most desperate & possibly very last moments of life. I couldn’t do that job. I couldn’t turn it off at the end of a shift, go home & sleep a restful night every night. But, if I did, & it came to these type of calls, I could never ever hang up. Even if there’s nothing I could do I wouldn’t stop trying to get something…anything & keep them on the phone. Very least I’d be a voice of compassion on the other end of the line all the way until the signal tone.
@@OVRxNxOUTit’s not common but there absolutely are scenarios where this can happen. Unregistered or deactivated cell phones can still dial 911. Only issue is when they do it comes up as a 911 area code. They’re completely untraceable and you can not get locations on them. If the operator can not make contact with the caller do you just expect them to stay on the line for hours until the battery on the phone dies? And if they do some dispatch centers only have 1 dispatcher on. What do you think they’re going to do when another call comes in? At some point you just have to disconnect and hope the person either calls back or can resolve the situation on their own.
@@jessicajones8872 your comment is highly ignorant & offensive. We are LUCKY to have such people that are willing to put their mental well-being at risk to help others in life-or-death situations, continuously. It takes an extremely strong person do such a job, and someone that is passionate about helping others at their own risk to be able to have a career in it. If you think it’s “not so bad” I’d like to see your dumbass attempt it for even a WEEK. Chances are, you wouldn’t last a second. Be GRATEFUL for those that work with 911/are first responders. I was an EMT…it was a very hard job but I loved it knowing the impact I was making on the community. I had to go to counseling once a week to make sure I kept myself in check, so I could do my very best to help others, while making sure I wasn’t damaging myself in the process. You hear and see things you can’t unhear/unsee. Stop with your stupid assumptions that if someone is STRONG enough to hold a career in this field, that it makes it “not so bad”. That just means she’s one of those extra special people that we are SO grateful to have. Now sit your ass down
It's cheaper. Haven't listened to it yet. If they don't mention about getting calls on powerful people abusing children, and having to call on a cell number to the police supervisor of that area to cover it up, it's all crap. They won't put it out over the radio, but they call the supervisor for that area on their cell.
In Florida, they(APCO)have been trying to change that. For some reason, not happening. I've been in this field for 19yrs. A lot of what is being said is common to all 911 dispatchers. It's rare we even get "debriefed" when terrifying calls happen.
I worked as a dispatcher and had PTSD. I had to quit because it was too much for me to handle. And I worked for a county that had small towns but you’d be surprised how much darkness there is.
Grew up in towns under 1,000 and know of countless tramautic drowning deaths, suicides, fires from volunteer fire fighting. One kid managed to hang himself and light himself on fire. How much darkness there is indeed.
@@jclausell62 or the firefighters from California that came to help when Australia was in need and paid the ultimate price for it We won’t forget, thank you for your service to our country all Californian firefighters
It's not *just* the sexual assault, the murder, the domestic, the child abuse or suicide... It's **ALL OF THEM** that broke me. I applaud this dispatcher's courage to share what it's like living through a shift. I hope he gets out of there before he breaks too.
I hope lots of people see this, that we can change the system to recognize them as the first responder, they can have therapy paid for, a higher salary, and more people getting the job. Yes, that does mean more people being traumatized by these horrible phone calls… but it also means less people being abused, killed, going missing, etc- and less family members and friends being traumatized by these tragic events happening to their loved ones. More calls will be answered on time, less calls will be hung up, and more people will be saved. The 911 operators will also be *less* traumatized, although there will be more of them, because they wont be carrying so much on their shoulders.
@@captainsquiggles5958I completely agree with you....our schools need a complete overhaul.... children, youth, young people need to be taught and trained how to be human and treat each other...
I was a 911 dispatcher and I tell you, it changes your life. These people deserve so much for what they have to endure on a daily basis. They may be unseen but they are the unsung heroes.
I have called 911 twice in my life. 1 operator wasn’t really up for hearing about my emergency and I was rather annoyed (I was in a car accident) and the other time they were really nice and helpful (had to call paramedics for my grandma) I’ll try to keep in mind the horror they hear every day to sympathize with everything they go through.
Also don't mix up there lack of over empathetic customer service with annoyed. I think the US is too used to hearing super over exaggerated emotions from customer service, they forget how humans normally sound when on the phone. Most are trying to do their job and do it well....however they cannot be too emotionally attached or else it is hard to last long
I was a 911/EMS dispatcher for a little under 10 years in the mid-2000s. I can tell you, every single thing this man said is true. I still carry haunting memories to this day. And all for barely $15 an hour. It was sad.
Yep, it’s very traumatic.. there’s a ton of channels with real 911 calls on RU-vid, you can just look up 911 calls and there’s tons of terrible 911 calls including a women burning to death and you can hear her screams on the pgone
I made 15 an hour in 2020 so u making it 20 years ago is pretty decent.. Idk what y'all are expecting at a PD especially if you not in a major city. Can't anybody apply??
I was in a city of about 500k, and as 911/EMS dispatchers we had to be both EMT and EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatcher) certified. In addition to answering 911 calls, at the same time I had to play a chess game of sorts with 98 ambulances, constantly shifting them to make sure all of our areas were covered. So no, not just anybody could apply. I had a computer mouse in each hand and 4 screens in front of me to keep track of, and it wasn’t even the full $15 an hour, it was like $14.75 if I recall. It was sad back then and I really hope they make more now.
@@ayla8345 the job itself wouldn’t have been easier, but being paid more would’ve made myself and my coworkers feel more appreciated, and that goes a long way towards retaining good people. Also, people who make more will generally accept a higher level of stress and psychological strain on the job because they feel the pay is commensurate with what they have to endure.
This suddenly puts those “bad 911 operators” in a new light. Imagine them taking call after call on their 5th 12hr shift, taking their 100th call that day after pranks and whisper calls, listening to domestic abuse, and not being able to get someone’s address…it’s like every day is a bad day. With that much stress, it becomes a little easier to empathize with someone who snaps at a caller.
@@Rafid-ez8jm In my view. A surgeon is professional and knows what they're doing and what to expect and is highly accountable. An operator will be exposed to all kinds of things over the phone while doing it for hours. Like the guy in the video said, doesn't matter if you think you got thick skin. The job will have some level of mental toll no matter who you are.
@@Rafid-ez8jmguess what!! surgeons make mistakes all the time!! it’s actually one of the leading causes of death in americans!! saying you expect these people to be perfect after days like this, while making an average of $20 an hour, is absurd. god bless these people.
My aunt had been an operator, she had quit after someone had suffocated their baby in their sleep. The things they hear are heartbreaking and it takes a lot of strength to do because of the toll it takes on you. They truly don’t get enough credit.
As a 911 operator; these things are so true. You really have such a big impact on people; you represent not only the police, fire, ambulance services but you also HAVE to be that calm voice. One wrong thing said can drastically ruin the outcome of the call or make the situation dangerous for other emergency personnel.
The media usually highlights 911 operators failures, but rarely the ones who do a good job. I'm a nurse, and I feel like they deserve recognition as well.
The same applies to the police. They have to arrive at these horrific situations described, yet get constantly vilified by cowards that don’t have the guts or ability to do what they do.
@@colin6603 remember when dozens of cops stood in a school hallway for over an hour listening to kids dying and they did nothing at all? Cops don't even have the courage you're ascribing them.
Even the ones who aren't doing a good job, it might very well be circumstantial. I don't think I can handle a call at the end of 24 hour shift with grace and poise after getting 50 prank calls
This sounds absolutely terrifying. Hearing people scream for help and possibly not being able to help them And go on as if nothing happened is unimaginable. I could never do this 🥺
I think that I would like it. I’ve survived a lot of trauma and abuse, and am able to cope with such situations, as long as I can make a difference to a person at all. The difference I would enjoy making is just not being a judgmental jerk, as someone’s last connection in their dying moments…or in times of fear or loss. That’s why I’ve thrived in battered woman’s shelter and addictions treatment work. I got through my own trauma, despite certain “helping” people adding to it. I, now, find rewards in giving people what I didn’t have until one counselor helped me through the storm. Love 💝. Pass it on!
I survived attempted suicide, multiple. I can tell you first hand the regret and trauma I have years later since then. I couldn’t finish this video but these people have saved my life. Thank you for everything.
I survived 1 attempt. I feel no guilt to my parents (they created me in a world where hydro morphone is illegal) but a bit of guilt to the dispatcher. unless they also created somebody in a world where morphinans are illegal in which case it is completely cancelled out.
I’m so sorry that you have not been receiving the tremendous amount of recognition that you all deserve. You all have saved so many people and we are so grateful for all that you guys do. I can’t imagine the stress you guys must feel knowing that you’re the first or last person on a call with someone who needs help. Thank you so much for being a FIRST and important responder for our communities.
Categorizing these folks as clerical staff is absolutely unacceptable. For the life of me I can't figure out why it's so difficult for states to support the people that supports everybody.
@@andrew627 As I understand it, there's a significant difference in the salaries and mental health resources. I think it goes beyond that into training as well tho.
Fortunately in certain states our classifications are changing- for example here in NJ we just finally got reclassified as first responders.. way overdue if you ask me. To even have been previously classified as clerical was such an insult- we’re definitely not secretaries. Also.. it can effect how many years we have to work before we can collect our pension/retire and there’s a lot more trauma resources available
My significant other is a 911 operator and I am a CSI I very often see the aftermath of what they just heard on the phone. Luckily we have each other to talk to but it’s still extremely hard and being understaffed is an understatement.
Like c’mon at least give them over $20 an hour if not $30. This is a terrifying profession and it takes major skill to handle these calls. Thank you to 911 operators and thank you for holding the victims in a place in your hearts for a moment. I couldn’t imagine the pain and suffering. This definitely puts thing into perspective. I pray we find peace..
Dont think thats enough to pay for all the trauma and stuff that happended to them yet the government would probably pay them a little above mininum wage
Welcome to democratic ideology too defund the police, they cities that actually fund their police departments have latest technology and pay them well. But continue to support who likes to defund police
That is absolutely insane. How can they not classify you as a first responder?? My heart goes out to 911 operators❤️ You guys aren’t alone and we are here for you all.
Damn.. the instance of the woman who mistakenly shot her husband really caught me off guard. That's so disturbing and through one mistake that women ruined so many lives including her own 😢
seems hella weird to me. Wasn't she expecting her husband? Did he not call out to her even once? Didn't he use his key to come in? I don't understand how you just accidentally shoot your husband in the head
Husband, stranger or not, the rule of thumb as a gun owner is...before you put your finger on the trigger you must be able to identify your target and what’s behind it. Either the woman didn’t take a proper course or got so paranoid, all rules went out the door and out of mind. OR, like all others are saying, could’ve been a cover up. Bottom line, NOT a responsible gun owner.
As a 911 dispatcher for over 15 years every word he said is true with the exception that where I am in Canada we are considered first responders. The calls definitely stay with you especially calls involving children and suicides.
@@davidsixside769 I wouldn't say "secret" however my center has no exterior signage and the windows which face the street are essentially one way and bomb resistant with concrete "planters" spaced so as not to allow a vehicle to hit the building. The only telltale sign is the radio tower at the rear of the building. All that said however, the address is public.
My mom was a 911 for a little under five years. She still talks about the woman she heard murdered a block from the police station and the night she was on call when they found the sheriff's son dead from suicide in his car. I could never ever do what these people do.
i’m planning on doing dispatch for the next few months until i’m 19 and can actually start working with my EMT license and even though i knew it’s a rough job, these stories really put it into perspective for me. i’m glad there’s content like this available on the internet so people can have a better understanding of the jobs they’re getting into because that’s what this video has done for me. thank you to this dispatcher and all dispatchers for telling your stories and helping so many people. ❤️
A&E had a whole show about actual real 911 operators and what they go through but I think they just randomly stopped doing anything with the show which sucks because these people for the longest should be supported big time for the things they hear and have to go home with on their minds on a daily basis.
It's the same with social-media operators; they have to remove absolutely horrible things to spare other people from having to see them, but that means they see it themselves. That's why moderators and 911 operators don't last too long, they tend to have relatively high turnover rates.
@@dominicarroyo6269 there’s actually real videos of 911 calls on RU-vid, look up real 911 calls but be careful.. it’s very traumatic.. There is literally a video of a older women screaming because she begins to burn to death, all the calls are terrifying, especially the home invasions when the kids are hiding calling 911, or other things when someone kills the entire family etc, I couldn’t keep watching them, they are horrible
As bad as it is, most of the budget is going to the police officers that actually have to deal with the situation present and are at risk of injury or death themselves.
I thought about being a PO (Parole Officer), until I found out there are less than 6,000 POs in the entire COUNTRY, and each case worker handles between 50-80 cases (in my state) at a time. And that's not even talking about the research I did on my own and how powerless POs sometimes are and how the parole system is basically designed to set people up to fail so they remain in the System as prisoners for free slave labor for the Corps forever. The entire System is F'd and needs a rework...
My high school had a Police Academy program that I joined. Basically building us up to become police officers after we graduated HS. One day, we went on a field trip to the police office. One of our stops was the operating/dispatcher office. They allowed us to listen into the calls that they received. One call I'll never forget was about a 80-something-year-old woman falling down a flight of stairs. I honestly don't know if she lived through that or not. This happened back in 2008.
I was a 911 operator for a military base. Some of the stuff I heard still messes me up to this day. The thing that really broke me was a baby call. Mother screaming on the other line that she wasn’t breathing. Had the father get on the phone cause he was more calm way more calm than usual. Many of the calls you never hear the ending to it but this one I found out later that night the baby made it. I went home and was feeling great. Then a week later I was told by my supervisor the baby had passed and the reason she wasn’t breathing was because the father shook her that night. I had given this man instructions for cpr on an infant only to realize he was the one who shook her to death. I can still hear the mothers scream in my head loudly and that call was 3 years ago.
Maybe in the future this is the type of job a robot should take over, this is too stressful of a job to do 40 or more hours a week. It’s not sustainable.
@@sophiasoto1405 It's a shame though because even if we could get that to work, all it takes is a single mistake from a robot and the whole thing would get bashed into oblivion by the public. Even if it committed a lower % of mistakes than humans there would still be too many deluded people against it.
@@colin6603 policing isn’t a dangerous job stop spreading propaganda, more pizza delivery drivers are killed in the line of duty every year. If you want to lick a real hero’s boots head down to your local dominos
I work as a disability claim processor and we always process 911 operators or paramedic claims. They submit horrific documentation about their traumatic condition they experience at work and my god the things I have read are absolutely brutal. I can’t imagine how tough it is for them to do this as a daily job. My heart goes out to all of them.
i’ve always wanted to work in a line of duty where i can help anyone and everyone in need and for the longest time i was invested in being a 911 operator. i started doing research and found how truly serious it is , how much it can take a toll on you and your mental health and being an already sensitive person who gets anxiety and panic attacks easily i discovered that it wasn’t the best option for me. i truly can’t express or put into words how appreciative i am for all 911 operators , what you do doesn’t go unnoticed, sending all of my love. ❤️
As a former 911 dispatcher, in a small county, where you are by yourself after 1 month, I heard a guy kill himself with a shotgun on the phone, I had to call child protective services because a four-year-old girl had ticks inside of every orifice of her body and was slowly dying, had to listen to so many domestic violence situations that I don’t care to count. I've heard "there's a very drunk man outside my house with a shotgun saying he's going to kill me!" And then proceed to hear him bang on doors until the state police showed up. Then they were the times where you have grandmothers calling you because their grandchild that they’re watching swallowed something and are turning purple and you have to walk them through infant CPR. Or the Heimlich. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. So many call I don't remember .. another thing is that in this small county I worked, I wasn’t just a 911 call taker I was the emergency services dispatcher as well. So I also had to dispatch the emergency services necessary to deal with the situation and stay involved until it was dealt with.
Jesus Christ. This shouldnt be categorized as some simple "office job", you are literally actively protecting and serving our community in one of the most stressful jobs in the world. This is one of those jobs where you just cant make a single mistake in. I have high respect for anyone who can handle this line of work.
@Fuhrious - As an EMT, YALL are 🏆 hands down THE TRUE FIRST RESPONDERS‼️👏 I made a comment just now naming just some of the MANY tasks you do, simultaneously!!!! Heroes ‼️💕🌎
I was a 911 operator in my hometown for a while. It’s been almost five years since I left and I still have dreams about some calls. There is a sense of hopelessness when you can’t be there to help and it’s too late. I had a call once when a woman was murdered on the phone. All she could scream was help and All I could do was listen and pray the police got there in time. The job is not for a weak. That’s for damn sure
@@VGODPit just makes sense for operators to watch this video. It's not for everyone, lot of people quit the job. It's statistically possible for them to unite over how difficult this job is, on some video on YT. Even if my theory is implausible, it isn't funny.
@@VGODP there's nothing funny n, i bet you know nothing about these comments being a joke or not just bcuz u already saw too many lies in the comments. the world i living in now, *tsk
i have been binge watching the Informer series and i can say this one specially affected me, I am in tears. this is hardcore but I kind of suspected it was this way... I am very proud of the person in this video for speaking up and for having the guts to do such a job. I hope you have a great life in spite of this, you deserve good things.
Shoutout to whoever was the operator on the phone when I called at midnight when I was 9 years old, saying my mom was possessed. I witnessed my mom have a seizure for the first time, and being a kid, I just thought a ghost in the house possessed her. They could of easily just hung up and sent police as a prank call but they were so gentle and making sure to get someone out as fast as possible. Then when a ton of EMT’s show up, my mom is now coming out of the seizure but very disoriented.. I was terrified, the EMT’s told me it was a seizure and what seizures do. Love them for helping a terrified 9 year old :)
@@boohere2 that's the exact problem you've just confirmed, it's not all about the police. This time it's about the heroes who gets the police there! Have a nice day everyone, take care.
My mom was a dispatcher, she loved that job but quit due to politics. She's saved several lives, talked people through the worst time in their lives, and has won several awards. Sometimes I wonder how many ppl have died cuz she couldn't stand being treated like crap by the other ppl and cops there. Edit: I can very much confirm everything that guy said. All the budget goes to cops, no one cares about the ppl that send them there. Also some dispatchers have access to police files, and they have alot of messed up and crazy pictures. Liveleak is on the same level as the pics I may or may not have seen.
@@Tybolt1 nah man, my mom is a hippie who wanted to help people; she just lives in a small town. People are ignorant, and when you are a genuine person; it offends them. It's people like you with hate in your heart that have ruined the world. I don't understand why you can't just go about your life and keep to yourself? You aren't special, and neither are your opinions; we're all the same. One day you'll die and be forgotten just like the rest of us. You should try to make the world a little better before you go, not worse. Edit: that's what she tried to do, and just like you and your comment...the people she worked with did the same.
How long was your mom a dispatcher before she finally quit? I hope she was able to get some type of counseling.. I definitely know I’d need it if I had that job. What do you mean by Liveleak is on the same level? What is it?
This is absolutely heart wrenching, but also solidifies my stance on being self reliant on handling certain emergencies yourself to the best of your abilities before dialing 911.
I wonder why she didn’t think that it was her husband- assuming they live together, why think intruder? Makes me wonder why , god that’s unbelievably heartbreaking
I don't understand why she didn't think it could be him. The first thing you do if you hear someone in your house when you think you're alone is call out to whoever you live with because there's an almost certainty it's going to be them
It could be a result of dementia or mental illness. I can’t even begin to imagine the aftermath of something like that. My condolences to everyone involved.
Mad respect for 911/112 responders. I'm a law student and 911 calls are the worse in case studies. (At least for me) The feeling of helplessness is so difficult. I can't imagine hearing those all (work)day.
When I was younger, I really wanted to be a 911 dispatcher. After talking to ppl (some that I know personally) who were/are dispatchers, theres no way in the world I'd be cut out for this job. I have a whole new level of respect for each and every dispatcher/operator after hearing their stories & the gruesome situations they're exposed to day in and day out. If you're a dispatcher & you're reading this - I'm so proud of your strength & resilience. You're rad as hell & truly deserve the recognition, you're all heroes. Thank you for being so selfless 💛 Also, seeing the suicide warning ⚠️ before the video AS WELL AS right under the description breaks my heart. It makes me wonder how many dispatchers who watched this are struggling with suicidal ideations & thoughts. My heart goes out to ANYONE in that state of mind. You're worthy of happiness & love & most importantly, life. Do not let your mind lie to you about all the negativity it tells you. You're loved. You're needed here, and I promise it gets better. PLEASE reach out to someone.
The story this person told about how you can't tell someone not to shoot, but you can't tell them to shoot and then that lady ended up shooting her husband in the head...I couldn't live with that guilt. Honestly. Serious props to dispatch operators. Just listening to these stories gave me anxiety and I listen to 911 calls on youtube for curiosity sake. My town just started a "text in" 911 service. I hope that somehow helps lessen the stress on dispatch.
@Brandon Krause Unfortunately some people are too quick at getting to the “shoot” stage rather than thinking rationally. But you’re right, it’s bizarre to me that her first thought wasn’t “oh, that’s probably my husband coming home”.
Here in Houston, we've had text for a few years now. I'd prefer to speak to someone, information gets transferred much more quickly by speech, but it is helpful in circumstances where someone can't risk being heard. Soon they will add the ability to send pictures/videos; it will be a mixed bag too as far as value to the dispatcher.
@Brandon Krause I don't find it strange for several reasons. We don't know how dark the room was at the least. My main point though is that I see a lot of relationships today that seem to be more about money than love. The partners are often extremely disconnected and independent. Depending on where the call was from, perhaps she wanted to kill her husband, but wanted to get off, but that last part is very deep in speculation
I was also deeply struck by that call as you were. The thing is what if it hadn't been her husband and the guy told her not to shoot. I think the biggest take away here is that people need to communicate with each other better
911 dispatchers are definitely unsung heroes. I cant imagine the mental trauma these ppl experience from dealing with those calls all day. It would eat me alive inside if I had to do it day in day out.
I was a 911 operator for 6 months and I can confirm that this is all true. I didn’t resign because of the phone calls though, it was the work environment and coworkers (other operators) that made me quit because it was the most toxic backstabbing place I’ve ever worked. Also the hours were awful too (13+) hour days with no time off
I feel this is one of the best and honest interviews in this series of videos. It shows how complex people are. I hope the 911 Operators are talking with a Therapist consistently. Thank you for posting.
@@freeffree4133 You must be lacking experiences to ask your question with rolling eyes emoji. Ha! There are various options for therapist sessions. Go learn.
@@suzannes5888 Yes, I remember that in the video. But hopefully from this interview video, there could be changes for that. And there are other therapist sessions that are available in other ways.
As someone who cleans up crime scenes I agree. The job can be tiring and I couldn’t imagine hearing people cry out as they die. Send much love and comfort to this individual
That’s so sad. They make it seem like the help is instantaneous. I’ve heard some horrible 911 operators and I can’t imagine the mental and emotional strain that puts on someone. I’ve heard others that made me cry with the patience and care they exhibited on the phone. This is not a job for the weak, and I commend all of our 911 operators. How does your voice not shake? How do you not break down in tears? That feeling of helplessness would kill me.
To all the 911 operators. I respect you so much. The ability to help people, follow the rules and maintain control over your emotions in difficult situations is something that always fascinated me.
My father-in-law thought he wanted to do this job after he retired, and he went through the training process. But he quickly realized that he was not going to be able to do it without finding himself in serious trouble for developing PTSD or ending up being sued because there is a legal component that he might make a mistake and end up being sued, and he felt that it wasn’t worth attempting in his golden years. And I don’t blame him at all for that.
My friend was an emergency hotline operator and heard the worst of humanity. She was left with severe PTSD which prevented her from working and was so incapacitating that she was hospitalised several times. Years later and she is still struggling with the trauma. It was horrible watching her suffer.
People don’t realize how incredibly strong and amazing 911 operators are. I have always looked at them as superhero’s and the fact they have to deal with people wasting their time vs real emergencies is crazy. Those moments will always be with them…
Taking one call and moving on to the next is so true. I had a guy shoot himself while on the phone with me. I heard his last words and his last breath. The next call I had a mother walk in on her son that hung himself and right after that s guy screaming at me because a car was parked in front of his house. I took every call back to back and had to move on like nothing happened. It's truly not for everyone I've seen so many people come and go over the years. I love serving my community but it's not for the weak.
as an EMT, hats off to dispatchers. they have a very important and highly underrated job because they not only are the first to make contact with someone in trouble but they relay important information to us so that we are ready to take over help when we arrive. they don’t get enough credit for all they do. I absolutely could not do my job without them.
I took a course for 911 dispatching few years back. People don’t think dispatchers are part of the police but they absolutely are. They’re the first ones you call when you’re calling ‘911’ I never continued into the career further but I have a huge respect for them and what they do from what I learned. Thank you dispatch.
An operator saved my life. Kept me awake while I OD’d and got me to communicate where I was while I was literally dying. I still don’t know how they did it, but I thank god every day I got connected to someone who effectively could save me. And I thank them, whoever they are, for saving me.
I worked for life alert as a dispatcher a long time ago, we had a call once from an elderly man who notified us that he had an intruder in his home but was able to beat up the intruder with a baseball bat. Turned out that he had dementia and it wasnt an intruder, it was his wife.
I remember when I was little I used to see our neighbor up the street, he was an elderly man that had two dogs. He always looks so sad and never talk to anybody. My other neighbor had told my mom that when he was in his thirties, somebody broke into his house in the middle of the night, waking him up. He shot and killed them. It turned out to be his wife.
I worked a job scheduling trips for the public and helping callers find their vehicle locations. With that I dealt with not knowing whether the next caller was going to be a joy or just devilish. It caused me stress. I know these hard workers are worked tirelessly! God bless them!
I couldn't even begin to thank this man and anyone who has the heart to have this job. But thank you to him and anyone reading this that has to hear the horrors humanity has to offer.
Crazy how a cop can murder someone in cold blood, and then get a paid vacation with a slap on the wrist... but a 911 dispatch operator attempts to save someone's life and can potentially end up in jail or broke! What a country we live in.
@@Us3r739nearly all the ones who got put on trial or investigated only to find out that they did nothing wrong and it was the victims fault for "not complying"
Been doing it for 28 years now in a major US city, where the burnout for 911 operators is 18 years. Yes, I've heard people's last gasps on the phone after being shot, and have been through an active shooter incident, which thank God the shooter was killed by police before he killed anyone, after wounding several people. I'm hoping to put in a few more years, although I can retire in a year. I don't know how much longer I'm going to last, not due to the stress of the job, but due to mental damage that has been done throughout the country in the last couple of years during COVID. People have become less rational than ever. I can deal with the horrors of the job, I'm getting burned out trying to talk sense to someone who doesn't want to hear, and will argue with me, and ignore every question or instruction. Over the last couple of years, it has been fun for the media and the public to bash 911 operators. Yes, mistakes are made, but you'll rarely hear when we do it right. Thankfully, I'm happy being in the background, as all of the thanks go to the officers, fire and EMS personnel, we are usually never thought of. Yes, I even saved a life by having to run into our jail to cut down a prisoner attempting to hang himself, thankfully I was more than rewarded by having done so, as there was little recognition even for that. Sadly, we are reaching a crisis, as no one wants to come in, or many lack the needed skills to be a dispatcher. As the guy pointed out, the additional strain of having to cover additional shifts is creating insane stress, putting us in a more and more vicious circle throughout the nation where more are leaving, without replacement.
@wehrmeister Because you mentioned you’ve been doing it for 28 yrs in a major U.S city I couldn’t help but think how you’ve managed to do it so long. Also, I couldn’t help thinking I hope you weren’t working on 9/11. Thank you for what you do.
@@estherstephens1858 Thank you ma'am. I don't work in NYC. I just got off after working a night shift on 09/11, just getting home in time to watch the horror, wondering what those dispatchers and other responders there in NYC had to be going through. I was off for my two days, staying glued to the TV, wondering if we were going to war, and if I was going to be recalled back to active duty in the Air Force (I wasn't, although I was angry and prepared to go). It's hard for me to believe that I've done this so long, and have always taken pride in my work, whether it's reuniting a lost dog with it's owner, to handling the major calls. But I'm ready to hang up the headset, and move on to relax a bit!
@@wehrmeister I hear you. I know you said you love what you do but I’m sure you’re ready to rest and relax. That doesn’t mean sit back and not do ANYTHING. It just means take a break from all of what you’ve been through. Thank you for your service.
yeah like the one call that ask you *Have you ever felt a knife cut through human flesh and scrape the bone beneath ?* and then he said *The question isn’t who am I, the question is, where am I ?* i swear to god i heard something in my closet and i ran on the street as fast i can
Check out real 911 calls on RU-vid. But if you can’t handle very gruesome stuff I’d suggest you skip that, they are very traumatic videos, including a women burning to death on the phone. It’s horrible the screams
I have a good family friend who is a 911 operator, a few years ago she was on the line with a 16 year old who was driving out on a rural road and she had accidentally driven off a gravel road and got stuck in a ditch. She couldn’t get her door open and the car burst into flames. And my friend had to listen to her burn to death because she couldn’t disconnect and help was still several minutes away. She said that was the worst call she’s received by far because there was just nothing that could have been done. She said it scared her for life.
The fact that they cannot instruct you to do something is the best kept secret of the whole thing. You will never see that on TV, they are depicted as someone who knows exactly what you should do in a certain situation. All they can say is "hide, stay quiet" or some basic stuff that wouldnt get them a lawsuit. They definitely need more help and recognition.
Sometimes VICE absolutely hits it out of the park. This piece deserves a Pulitzer Prize. My sincere thanks to the great work at VICE for drawing our attention to a critically important, yet often neglected area of our society. Not all heroes wear capes, folks.
@@Animedumptrucktheir reporters are typically left leaning, mostly due to the fact that most reporters are well….left leaning. Which is why they greatly outnumber the right leaning reporters even on other news stations. That being said, when they do stuff like this, it’s always amazing, they just let the person explain how it is, no interviewer, no reporter, just the blunt truth.
I applied for this job about a year ago in a rural area. The job paid like 45k a year after a much lower paid training period. Glad I found something else. These people deserve better.
to few for what are you experiencing so there was this one call that asked me *Have you ever felt a knife cut through human flesh and scrape the bone beneath ?* and then he said *The question isn’t who am I, the question is, where am I ?*
People yell and complain about how the 911 operator that answered their unnecessary phone call was unhelpful or sounded rude. But if you’d just hung up on someone who was getting beaten to death because they were in so much pain that they couldn’t tell you their location, and you couldn’t triangulate their location, then it would be hard to sound helpful after that.
A video that actually caused my stomach to twist. All these cases are so sad and horrifying and the fact that these people have to deal with this on a daily basis and still categorized as clerical staff is just sad man
ill never forget when my son had a seizure in the middle of the night. he was barely 2 y/o and i was stuck, just going through the motions. i broke down on the phone once i realized everything would be ok. ill never forget how calming and warm the woman was on the phone. she offered to stay on with me, the tone of her voice never changed. life savers.
As someone who has also been a 911 Dispatcher before, I can difinitively say everything he's saying is sadly 1000% true. People who have never worked that job before do not understand the amount of stress and PTSD that can come with working a job like that. My very 1st week as a dispatcher I had to take a call involving a shooting at a bar. I will never forget hearing the paniced screams and the voice of the lady who phoned it the 1st of many many calls.
My heart couldn't take a day working this type of job I thank every good person that has the strength to do this type of work youre an Allstar for sure
I have only had to call triple 0 (the emergency number in Aus) once, and it was life and death. I’m so glad they were able to help. It’s interesting to see how the US treats emergency responders - I went and had a look and our salary for triple 0 operators is about $77k, and they are part of the emergency services team (with paramedics). I’m glad to live in a country that treats our operators with respect though I suspect much of the trauma is the same.
77k AUD is about 51k USD. Not much of a difference in pay considering the cost of living being higher in Australia. But yes, it’s NOT enough for the work they are expected put in.
My grandmother was a 911 dispatcher in Vegas. She passed away when I was 12 so I never got a chance to really ask her questions about it. I'm sure she had some crazy stories. My heart goes out to all first responders INCLUDING 911 operators.
I used to be a EMT and I responded to a carbon monoxide call, I walked in the house and the family of 4 was sitting up right on the couch dead was a surreal experience I quit the job a couple days later Edit : I lied I was never an EMT
are they the ones that called? if so, why would they sit on the couch when they know there is carbon monoxide? i’m sorry you witnessed that. i couldn’t imagine finding people dead. i’m horrified enough that i’ll find a pet
I have so many questions . Wouldnt they have passed out with carbon monoxide poisoning instead of sitting up right? Were their eyes still open? Was their a tv playing as if they were all watching television prior to the incident ? Im so sorry you had to witness this .
They don't get paid anywhere close to what they should. Its a job I could never do and they are the 1st step in helping restore order from chaos. Bless them all.
It is crazy how 911 operators sometimes are not recognized enough. My mom passed out a couple years ago and I was desperately calling 911. I was desperately yelling at the operator and he was calmly giving me instructions on how to assist her while the ambulance was making its way to our home. He did a really good job keeping me calm while assisting her. She was taken to the hospital and eventually recovered. It definitely takes takes balls to perform this job!
All he is talking about is true. After working as a 911 operator/supervisor for over 10 years, one of the big reasons I had to leave was because I was tired of all the massive amount of liability I knew was on my shoulders all the time. You can't leave the job at the station. It follows you. There were always times where I would leave anxious because I wasn't sure if there was more I could've done. Even if I had, if the media or an attorney working a case gets a hold of your call, it will be played and dissected (sometimes in the news) and rarely do they point out how well a 911 operator did. Then like he mentioned, there were the LOOOOONG hours, the abusive callers, the calls that hit hard like listening to people die on the phone, the lack of support and resources... Several times I'd take one of those awful calls and its not like there is anyone there you can debrief with or talk to. You were on your own to deal with it. You would just have to suck it up and go right back to work. The agency I worked for would cross train us as 911 call-takers and dispatchers. It was not at all rare for me to be in the middle of a 911 call while also having to deal with the police radio for things like officer emergencies or taking traffic stops (you cant ignore these because of the huge officer safety issues that exist) because the person I was working with was already on an emergency call. The high stress and burnout was real.Thanks Vice for giving 911 operators a voice.
A boy in my church ward called 911 to tell them he was going to walk in front of a train and that they needed to come get his body. I guess the dispatcher heard the train hit his body and his cell phone broke and the call ended. The dispatcher told his mother that she'll never forget it
