A simple CAD error by an East Hampton Village (NY) dispatcher resulted in EMS units responding to the wrong location, delaying the response and ending with the death of a heart attack victim. Lanny Ross, 51, died at the hospital, and officials cannot say if a prompt response would have saved him. Kenneth Collum, director of the comm center, said the victim’s wife dialed 911 and gave the correct address in the town of Wainscott. However, the address is duplicated in three other jurisdictions on Long Island. When the dispatcher entered the address the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software displayed a drop-down menu of jurisdictions, and the dispatcher selected the village of East Hampton, Collum said. He did not release exact response times, but said a dispatcher realized the mistake and sent alternate EMS units to the correct address. Collum also said the caller used a VoIP line to make the 911 call, and that the ANI/ALI did not display the caller’s address. Read more here, and view a map of the locations after the break.
This map shows the two locations involved in the incident—the same house number in Wainscott and East Hampton.
View New York Wrong Location in a larger map
1 comment… add one
A tragedy no doubt, but a lesson – “cad” assists the dispatcher, not the other way around – noting what the caller says initially – who, what, and where is the ground floor of the business, and over reliance on technology can allow for a breakdown in the basics – listen – document – dispatch. The person on the other end may be on their last breath or have ten seconds left on their cell battery – one call only perhaps, so…. – it must be right the first time.
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