Arthur L Burton III was educated at Monroe University, Bronx, majoring in Computer Programming. He graduated from the Chubb Institute with concentration Network Engineering, NY.Arthur is a Certified NYSEMT and has volunteered as an EMT for the Throggs Neck Ambulance Corp in Bronx, NY.
Arthur works as a Freelance writer and Ghostwriter. He is currently an Active Board Member for the Greater Zion Hill Community Action Network, New York City, NY.
Jesus from the Bronx was riding his motorcycle on the Cross Bronx Expressway when he slammed into a car merging into the same lane that he was riding in. According to a witness on the scene his bike flipped over and he somersaulted several times before he landed on the ground.
A few good Samaritans stopped to assist him one woman who was a P.A. held his neck while the others called 911. 30 minutes had passed and their still was no Ambulance or Police on the scene. Jesus was flat on his back with a right wrist deformity and pain in his rib cage on his right hand side. A paramedic from Long Island stopped and gave support checking his vitals as 911 were called again. A woman on the scene who was waiting to make sure that Jesus was taken care of received a call from a 911 Operator informing her that the Ambulance was unable to find the location of the accident and then hung up the phone.
911 were called again and they gave a confirmation number for the call and said that there had been multiple calls but they had to cancel the call because the information that they were being given was not correct. Jesus was on the ground in the hot sun as good Samaritans opened an umbrella to give him shade from the sun because he was unable to move. He talked and began to regain his memory because at first he was unsure of where he was and kept saying the same things over and over again. He spoke with his friend who was on the scene named Tito and Tito called his family for him to let them know that Jesus had been in an accident.
Good Samaritans did their best to direct traffic as the New York drivers disregarded them directing traffic and at one point a silver Toyota drove straight at one of the retired EMT’s before stopping inches away from him. The Ambulance and the Police and the Fire Department all arrived finally at the same time and Jesus was on the ground for over an hour. In scenario’s like this there needs to be a better system to ensure that the signage on the highways and on ramps are exactly the same as what is programmed in the 911 dispatchers computer databases. They were able to see that there was a Jerome Avenue exit on Cross Bronx and that is what eventually got Jesus the assistance that he needed. Had this been a situation where it was late at night or he was bleeding he might not have been so lucky. Instead of pointing fingers we need to ensure that our emergency response units and dispatchers have the tools that they need to support the residents of New York City.
In some cases this is where GPS locators that are in cars can be a great assistant tools for giving information to 911 Operators. GPS devices are a great start but the technology needs to be improved to where you can give the 911 Operator your VIN number or ID number so that they can locate your car and dispatch the information over to EMS, NYPD, or the Fire department so that they can locate your vehicle and that is parked at or near the emergency. It is understood that the City needs to take a look at the locator systems and maybe we go back to the call boxes where 911 can be summoned and they will know exactly where the call box was pulled at. There are several solutions we just need someone in the Cities 911 call centers to get the ball rolling.