TRANSCRIPT 1
(O=Operator / C=Caller / F=Firefighter-EMS / CO=Command / D=Dispatch)
February 2010
OPERATOR CALLING CELL PHONE BACK/ GOES TO VOICEMAIL
O: Spotsylvania 911. Where is your emergency?
C: Oh, oh my God. Something … I think the house is on fire.
O: Okay, ma’am where is it.
C: 12218
O: Spotswood Furnace Road.
C: Yes.
O: Okay, there should be a deputy there. Okay?
C: I can’t breathe.
O: Okay, is this your house?
C: My roommate is downstairs, but I’m upstairs and I can’t come down.
O: Okay, so you’re upstairs as well?
C: Yeah.
O: Okay. Listen, tell me which bedroom are you in.
O: [THERE’S A SECOND FEMALE TRAPPED UPSTAIRS]
C: I’m in the back bedroom.
O: You’re in the back bedroom upstairs?
C: Yes. Oh my God [coughing/gagging].
O: Can you get on the floor?
C: I’m on the floor.
O: Is there anything…can you put a blanket or something in front of your doorjamb to keep the smoke from coming in?
C: It’s already in.
O: Okay, you blocked the doorjamb?
C: No.
O: Okay, try to take a blanket off your bed, or a towel, and push it in front of the doorjamb.
C: Ohhhh. [coughing/gagging]. Oh my God.
O: What’s your name?
C: [sneezing] Sandy. [coughing]
O: Okay, were you able to get the blanket in front of the door, Sandy?
C: Yeah.
O: Okay good.
C: I just don’t know if it’s all the way in front.
O: That’s okay, that’s okay.
C: I can’t see.
O: Now can you…do you have a window in that room that can open?
C: I tried [sneezing] I can’t get it open. [coughing]
O: Huh?
C: I can’t it open. [sneezing/coughing]
O: Okay.
C: Oh my God.
O: Just stay on the phone with me, Sandy, okay?
C: Oh my God. I can’t breathe.
O: Okay, don’t try to talk okay? I’m just going to stay on the phone with you, alright? Do you have a towel or something? I want you to put it in front of your face. Take anything, a shirt, a towel, whatever you can find.
C: Okay. [gagging] Ohhh, ohhh, ohhhh, I’m going to die.
O: No you’re not. Okay, listen, I’m on the phone with you okay? And I need you to try and calm down. We’re going to try to conserve your breaths, okay? Did you get something to put in front of your face?
C: Yes.
O: Where on the floor in the room are you? Are you under the bed or near a closet, where?
C: No, I’m right by the door.
O: Okay, can you get over closer by the window.
C: No. Ohhh, I can’t do anything.
O: Okay, alright.
C: Oh my God [sneezing].
O: Okay, Sandy, I need you to try to think for me. If I’m facing the back of your house, okay, and I’m looking up for your bedroom window, are you to the left, right…
C: When you come up the steps, I’m to the left.
O: As you come in the house, you’re up the steps to the left.
C: Yes.
O: Okay.
C: Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh.
O: Sandy, Sandy, slow your breathing down now, okay? Listen, we’re going to breathe nice and slow. Okay? Nice and slow. You have something in front of your mouth?
C: INAUDBLE, yeah.
O: Okay.
C: Ohhh, ohhhh…
O: Nice and slow, Sandy. Sandy. This is important. We need to try to conserve your oxygen. Okay? Try to close your mouth because you’re taking in a lot of smoke, okay? Try to breathe through your nose, nice and slow, nice and slow. I know there’s an urge to cough, just try to slow it down. Okay? How old are you?
C: 43.
O: Okay.
C: Ohhhh, ohhhh.
O: Okay.
C: Ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhhh.
O: No, try to stay calm, try to stay calm.
C: I know.
O: Okay. Do you…
C: Someone’s out there.
O: Sandy, they’re getting a ladder up there to try and get you out, okay.
C: INAUDIBLE.
O: This is what I need you to hold onto. Listen to me…Sandy.
C: uh-huh [sobbing]
O: Sandy, I want you to hold onto that thought. Do you understand me? They’re there. They’re at your house.
C: Okay [sobbing]
O: They’re at the house and they’re coming for you, okay. There’s a lot of fire equipment there. They’re trying to get you out.
C: I’m going to cry.
O: I need you to calm down. Sandy, Sandy, take slow breaths.
C: [gagging/coughing]
O: Take slow breaths, okay? Take slow breaths. Is there anything in the room that you could throw to break that window?
C: [sobbing/moaning]
O: Think about it, think about it. Is there anything you can break that window with?
C: [sobbing/moaning]
O: Sandy. Is there anything you can break the window with? If you see something, anything, I want you to throw it through the window. Okay? Take your time, think about it. Okay?
C: [breathing/gurgling/
O: Okay, Sandy, Sandy, I’m right here. Is there anything that you can throw at that window? Anything? So that we can try to get you some air.
C: [moaning/gurgling]
O: Sandy?
C: [moaning/gurgling]
O: Is there anything in that room that you can throw at the window?
C: I can’t see anything.
O: I want you to think about it and I want you to reach for it if you can. Can you reach for it Sandy?
C: [moaning/gurgling]
O: Sandy? Sandy?
C: [moaning/gurgling]
O: Sandy? Sandy?
O: [I’M LOSING HER, I DON’T HAVE ANY, ANY…]
O: Sandy?
C: [moaning]
O: Sandy?
C: [moaning]
O: Okay.
O: [IS THERE A POWER TRUCK ROLLING TO THIS? NO POWER TRUCK LOCKED UP? THEY’RE AWARE THERE’S A FEMALE UPSTAIRS BEDROOM, RIGHT?]
O: Sandy, I’m right here with you, okay?
C: [gurgling]
O: Sandy, I’m right here.
C: [gurgling]
O: Sandy? Sandy, I can hear them in the house. Can you hear them in the house? Sandy? Sandy, they’re in the house. Can you hear them in the house with you?
C: [wheezing]
O: Sandy, just hold onto my voice, okay? They’re in the house. They know where you are, okay?
C: [wheezing]
O: Sandy? I’m still right here okay?
C: [wheezing]
O: Sandy, I’m still here with you, okay?
C: [wheezing]
O: I’m right here, okay?
C: [wheezing]
O: I’m right here, Sandy, okay? And they’re in the house to get you, okay?
C: [wheezing]
O: Sandy, I’m still here with you on this line, okay? And, I can hear you breathing. You’re doing a good job.
C: [sneezing]
O: [FIRST FLOOR, I STILL HAVE THE SECOND FLOOR OPEN LINE. YES, SANDY IS STILL ON THE SECOND FLOOR UPSTAIRS BEDROOM TO THE LEFT. YEAH, IT’S NOT INTO IT YET.]
[INAUDIBLE]
O: Sandy, I’m still here, okay?
C: [gurgling]
F: I did a search …
C: [wheezing]
F: …upstairs. I need EMS to the front door.
O: Sandy?
CO: EMS report to the front door. EMS front door please.
O: Sandy, I’m right here okay. They know that you’re there.
F: Division 1 to Command. The victim is out. I need Rescue to the front door.
CO: Command copies. I’ve got Rescue coming to you. Are we going to need a second EMS unit as well?
O: Yes.
CO: Affirmative.
D: Dispatch Direct.
F: Wagon 1 to Command, we’re approaching the scene, where would you like us?
CO: Wagon 1 when you arrive, stage your apparatus out of the way. Send your manpower to command post.
O: Sandy, I’m still here. Okay.
F: Wagon 1 Direct. Wagon 1 is on the scene, Dispatch.
S: The firefighters got your roommate out downstairs, okay, and now they’re going to come back for you. Okay? You stay with me and keep your breathing just like it is. Nice and slow. Okay.
C: [gurgling]
O: Good.
CO: Division 1 also, I have two personnel …
O: Good.
CO: …from Tanker 1 at the command post that are available. You have six personnel from Wagon 7 that are standing by as RIT.
O: [THERE’S NOBODY WITH HER…INAUDIBLE]
D: Dispatch to Command, we’re still on 911 with Sandy. She’s still in the bedroom.
CO: Command copies. Command to Division 1, do you copy?
F: Affirmative.
D: Gurgling respirations.
CO: Command copies Dispatch.
O: Sandy?
CO: Is she still able to talk?
O: [NEGATIVE]
D: Negative. We can still hear her.
CO: Direct.
O: I’m still here, okay?
C: Mmmm.
CO: Command to Engine 10’s crew.
O: They got the people downstairs out and they’re coming back upstairs for you, okay?
F: Engine 10 entering.
O: You’re doing good with the breathing, okay?
CO: You still have a victim on the second floor. She’s in a bedroom to the left. Second floor bedroom to the left. She still is by 911.
C: Mmmm.
O: Can you hear them? I can hear them in the house. Can you hear them?
F: Check by the window. She’s right here, good.
CO: Understood.
C: [wheezing]
F: Patient’s __ (s/l ??)
O: Can you hear them Sandy? They’re there for you.
C: No. [gurgling].
F: Sandy!
O: They’re calling you.
F: Sandy!
O: Sandy? They’re there for you. Say something.
O: [TELL THEM THAT SHE SHOULD BE NEAR THE DOOR. NEAR THE DOOR. I CAN HEAR THE FIREFIGHTERS CALLING HER]
CO: Engine 10 you copy? She’s by the door.
F: Sandy, are you here?
F: I have the first patient, start ALS, and another unit please.
O: [THEY WERE JUST RIGHT THERE AT THAT DOOR. I COULD HEAR THEM. NOW THEY GOT FARTHER AWAY]
O: Sandy? Sandy? Sandy?
O: [I THINK THEY MIGHT BE WITH HER, I CAN’T TELL]
[I THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE HER, BUT I CAN’T TELL. I CAN HEAR BANGING]
F: Second floor, no results. We’re going to the first floor again.
O: [NEGATIVE, THEY WERE RIGHT THERE, I COULD HEAR THEM]
CO: Direct. She’s reported to be in a bedroom by the door. If that helps at all.
O: [TELL THEM I SAID…]
O: We can hear the firemen…Stafford County.
O: [SHE’S ON THE FLOOR]
O: Sandy? If you can bang anything, just knock so they know exactly where you are. They’re right there, but they can’t see you.
F: Sandy!
O: Sandy? Sandy?
F: 51 to Command. Get us some fans to the doors.
CO: Understood. I have Wagon 1’s crew coming up bringing fans to the doors.
F: Sandy!
F: INAUDIBLE
CO: Repeat your last? I copy Chief.
O: Sandy?
F: We got her, we’re coming out. We’re coming out.
O: OKAY, THEY’RE WITH HER.
CO: Okay, have 61 report directly to the front of the structure. We’ve got another victim coming out. We’re going to need them right away please.
F: Medic 10-1 come right up to the front of the structure.
F: You got her?
F: They ain’t going to be able to make over that supply line. They’ll probably stop right at the supply line 10-1.
F: You can pull it. Get the medic. Call Detective __ (Risin?) right now.
F: Go…Go! Go!
CO: Command to 5, correction,
EMS 51.
END OF VOICE FILE