The first cell phone

The first day of school is only days away.

This afternoon Tori’s parents gave her, her very first cell phone. She was very excited to have this small piece of technology in her hand. It can take pictures and she can look at things on the internet and everything she has only heard about from her friends. As they sit down to dinner her parents are still harping on the responsibility it entails to have such an important and expensive item.

Tori’s parents have gone over every aspect that they could think of to help Tori to understand the responsibilities; safe and regular practices to keep the phone from being damaged along with keeping her safe. Her mom has helped her add games, along with putting family and approved friend’s contact information. To Tori’s disappointment, she is not allowed to have social media apps on her phone yet.

Finally, the first day of school has arrived. Tori is the first ready and waiting, she has everything she needs and especially her cell phone. While waiting for the bus to arrive her dad reminds her to keep track of it and not to lose it. The bus arrives and off to school she goes.

As Tori is attending the first day of her sixth-grade year, there are three dispatchers on duty in dispatch. Already this morning there have been multiple calls including three car accidents, two other medical calls, a lost dog and a wrong number. As the day goes on more calls are received including a lost four-year-old that many agencies have been out in the secluded woods trying to locate. It is now 3:45 p.m. and the child has been missing for three hours.

As the phone rings…

Myrissa: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”

Myrissa could only hear a muffled what sounded like ‘it works’. Or was it ‘hurts’? She tried to listen and see if they would say something else before the line disconnected.

Another call comes in seconds later, it is the same phone number.

Myrissa: “9-1-1, Where is your emergency?”

Caller: “Umm, nowhere.”

Myrissa: “Do you have an emergency?

Caller: “No, do you?”

Myrissa can tell that this caller seems to be of younger adolescent age.

Myrissa: “Can I speak to your parents or an adult in the home?

Caller: “Sure, here is my mom.”

As another voice gets on the line it most definitely is not her mom but another adolescent girl. However, Myrissa talks to her also.

Myrissa: “This is 9-1-1 emergency we have received two calls from this number, is everything OK?

Caller: “I don’t know, is everything OK?”

Myrissa: “If I don’t get to speak to an adult, I will have to send someone to the house to speak to you.”

Caller: “Well she doesn’t want to talk, and I have to go; bye.”

The caller hangs up but to only to call right back.

Myrissa: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?

Caller: “I don’t have an emergency, but my friend just called in and well my mom isn’t home, and everything is ok. It is all ok so don’t send anyone ok.

Myrissa: “What is your name?”

Caller: “Tori, but everything is OK.”

Myrissa: “What is your address?”

Tori: “I don’t know, I have to go.”

Myrissa: “Wait, just one more thing.”

Tori: “What?”

As Myrissa is talking with Tori, an officer has already been sent to the location showing where Tori is. Even though she was not a small child, and seemed to be old enough to say if everything was ok or not, it must be checked to make sure.

Myrissa: “Dialing 9-1-1 is not something to do as a fun idea or prank. This number is for emergencies. The time I have spent talking with you and your friend there could have been someone having a real emergency. Even the second longer that it took to answer their call because yours was ringing in could have made a life-or-death difference in their life.”

Tori: “I won’t ever call again.”

Myrissa: “I don’t want you to be afraid to call if you do have a real emergency. That is why we are here. Where is your mom or dad? How old are you?

Tori: “They are at work; I am 12.”

Myrissa: “Tori, I want you to stay on the phone with me. There is going to be an officer pull into your driveway shortly.”

Tori: “Why, how do they know where I am?”

Myrissa: “When you called 9-1-1, your cell phone was able to be mapped to your house. We sent an officer to make sure there was not a real emergency.”

Tori: “Tell them not to come everything is fine!”

As Tori was starting to cry the officer was pulling into the driveway.

Myrissa: “Tori, listen to me; it is all going to be OK, I will stay on the phone with you until you start talking to the officer.”

Tori: “But my parents are going to be so mad!”

Myrissa: “Talk with the officer and he will also help explain to your parents.”

As Tori was talking with the officer Myrissa immediately released the call to dispatch an ambulance for her partner’s medical call. About four seconds later a deputy keyed up on the radio to advise dispatch that the missing child had been located! He and his dog are OK.

As the school year is set to begin education is always key when anyone has a cell phone. Every year many calls are received, some by accident, others just to see if it works. There have been calls from the classrooms, gyms, playgrounds and on the bus ride to and from school.

All should know that 9-1-1 is there for emergencies and they should not be afraid to call if they are scared or think there is an emergency, but to never call just to be calling.

On behalf of Texas County 9-1-1, we want to wish all a safe, fun school year!

The Texas County Emergency Services office in Houston is funded by a 3/8-cent countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2013. Director Terra Culley can be reached by phone at 417-967-5309 or by email at terraculley911@hotmail.com.

The post The first cell phone appeared first on Houston Herald .