Priorities & Emergencies

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That meme makes me laugh, and a saying I find myself repeating over and over for some reason is, "it's funny because it's true." 

Anyway, I wanted to talk about Priorties and Emergencies. How are they different, and how are they the same? 

I've noticed that mine might seem just a little extreme to most people. Why is this? Sometimes I question myself, are my Priorties right? Should I lower a standard of what an emergency is? Or should I keep it right where it's at? 

Dispatching is somewhere I've learned what prioritizing is. All day long in the 911 world, the phone rings and rings. Sometimes you barely even have time to go to the restroom in a 12 hour shift. It's a hard thing helping everyone that has an "emergency" in a huge city. Especially one with a high crime rate. 

You see, sometimes people call 911 and it's really not an emergency. They'll call 911 because their neighbors left out their trash cans a day too long on the curb, or because someone parked in front of their house when really it's a public street and there's no law that's broken. 

Once you fix the garbage can issue, and explain politely to please call the non emergency line instead because garbage cans aren't a life or death issue- the phone rings again. This time, it's a mother who's baby isn't breathing and is bright blue. Or it's a child who found their father with their eyes closed on the ground, and their chest isn't moving anymore. 

The garbage can people, and the medical issue people called the same number. 911. 

I hope these examples help the world (mainly my peers) understand the difference between an emergency and a non emergency. Yes, I get it- people live in different realities and maybe their emergencies seem different than others. But please world, if you send me an "URGENT" text, Facebook message, or voicemail.... Urging me to get back to you ASAP...please make sure it really is urgent. Let's redefine and get back to realizing what an emergency really is. My phone is filled with them daily of people in crisis, and I can't really drop it all for something that's not. 

PS friends- thanks for understanding, and thanks for being patient when it might take me a few days to get back to you...or if I forget. :)