Three 999 Calls
I was waiting for this one…
Me: Nee Naw Service, what is the add…
Woman: Hello, I want information about Bird Flu!
Me: Pardon?
Woman: Bird Flu! Tell me about Bird Flu!
Me: I’m sorry, this is an ambulance service, we don’t give out information about Bird Flu or anything else.
Woman: Well, do you have the number for Bird Flu Information?
Me: No, I’m afraid I don’t.
Woman: Tsk! *click*
First of the Firework Related Accidents
Yesterday’s calls filled me with a sinking feeling about The State of the World We Live In, etc. Not only did I get a call for a 12 year old girl who had tried to commit suicide and a 80 year old man who had been assaulted by the other geriatrics in his nursing home, I took a call from a British Rail station about an incident which I can only describe as gross and crass stupidity. Apparently, a group of students from the nearby university had gone on to the platform and thrown a lit firework through the doors of a crowded rush hour commuter train. This is one of those pranks that just isn’t funny in any way, shape or form and I was extremely relieved to know that, no thanks to the perpetrators, the injuries were far less serious than they could have been. No-one was actually burned by the firework, but several people were knocked over in the stampede to vacate the train, and one had a sprained ankle.
Little Mo
Life really does imitate soap sometimes. A young woman rang in floods of tears; I had to get her to repeat what had happened several times. “My boyfriend *sob* hit *sob* *sob* iron *sob*.” At first I thought she was saying that her boyfriend had hit her with the iron, but after the third repeat I realised that what she was saying was that her boyfriend had been beating her up and that she had grabbed the iron and smashed him over the head with it, just like Little Mo did to Trevor in Eastenders. He was now prostate on the floor, semi conscious and bleeding, and thankfully unlike Little Mo this girl had done the right thing and dialled 999. I had mixed emotions — on one hand, it is never okay to hit people over the head with heavy objects (or without them), even if they hit you first, but on the other hand, I can understand how someone would be driven to do such a thing and I could hear in her voice that she was horrified and full of remorse at what she had done, and immediately set about getting help. She was also did everything she was told to help him until the ambulance arrived, opening his airway and using a cloth to control the bleeding. Of course, being the face of the non-judgemental impassive Nee Naw Service I wasn’t allowed to express an opinion on the matter anyway, which is good, because I wouldn’t have known which sort of opinion to express.
(NB. I know it’s “prostrate” and not “prostate”, however, the typo amused me sufficiently for it to be left in. Not least coz some might say that guy deserved to have his prostate on the floor as much as an iron in his face.)
on October 22nd, 2005 at 10:55 am
I hope the students in #2 were prosecuted.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 11:19 am
The police were there already and they’d managed to restrain a couple of the perpetrators, but some others got away. I hope they’ll be prosecuted too, that incident could have been so much worse.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 11:32 am
Why do people think fireworks are fun to play with? You could seriously injure someone (or kill I suppose) with them. Sodding morons.
Why would anyone think that ambulance control would know anything about bird flu?
on October 22nd, 2005 at 1:21 pm
Why do we still allow the sale of fireworks to the general public. Here we have a huge, free show which is fab and yet still the shops are selling the things to anyone and everyone to throw about and injure people and property. It is just time to take them off the general market. IMHO.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 4:00 pm
Like the others, I hope the group in #2 are prosecuted. I simply don’t understand some people’s ideas of fun.
Re #1- there is an article in today’s Washington Post concerning a local shortage of the drug Tamiflu (supposedly one of the few effective in treating H5N1). I read about a girl in Vietnam who died of a resistant form of H5N1. I can’t remember where or I’d provide a link. I think it may have been NY Times onliine or mayube IHT or …I just don’t remember. Sorry.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 4:59 pm
I say, good for the girl for hitting her boyfriend back. If I were on scene with that one, I suspect I’d offer some form of congratulations.
Self defense is a good thing, because a lot of people who hit others are banking that the ‘victim’ won’t hit back.
I love the surprised look on 18stone male who thought that it was a good idea to grope a bystander, only to have her knee him right where it hurts…
on October 22nd, 2005 at 5:08 pm
I dunno — I see what you mean, but I don’t think it is okay to hit back, even if someone hits you first, and especially not with a great big iron. That’s just stooping to his level. Then again, what other option did she have? Just sit there and let him beat her up? Reason with him (like that would have worked)? I’m kind of glad she stood up for herself.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 6:04 pm
‘and a 80 year old man who had been assaulted by the other geriatrics in his nursing home,’
I blame the parents.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 8:17 pm
I’m with Tom Reynolds on self-defense. Women with abusive men get enough messages about how the most important thing in the world is not hurting the big darlings. There’s a very simple way not to get hit with anything, for the men. Don’t start it. Congrats indeed!
On the other hand, I guess it’s good that you’re such a non-violent guy, Mark. Some of the calls you get, I don’t know how you restrain yourself from putting a foot through the phone. Bird flu. For God’s sake.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 8:18 pm
Good for the girl (with the iron). I’m sure she hadn’t sat down and thought “if that b*st*rd hits me again I’ll grab the iron”. I suspect it was more a case of self preservation and her instinct to survive made her grab the nearest movable object and lash out with it.
I hope for her sake she doesn’t now feel guilty and have him back in her life - if he’s the sort to hit her in the first place he’ll turn her guilt into a weapon along with his fists.
I don’t generally agree with hitting back, but in certain circumstances it can be the only option left.
on October 22nd, 2005 at 10:29 pm
bird flu why not give her the number 0845 4647, or ask if she got internet access and tell her to go to nhs direct and type in bird flu into the search box. the bird flu update is at
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/news.asp?articleID=1304
Fireworks incident, cant they be scared with a dummy firework shoved somewhere and lit. and see how they like it.
I read some where a DV victim, recorded herself being beaten up by her worst half, but before she got the nerve to the cop her friend found it and had it played at his local during an ad break in a big footy game.
strangely the bloke ended up in A&E after falling down a flight of stairs later that night. I just wish i could find the paper i saw it in.
on October 23rd, 2005 at 2:46 am
MuppetDude: Why do people think fireworks are fun to play with? … Why would anyone think that ambulance control would know anything about bird flu?
The key word there is ‘think.
And what Tom said about self-defence.
on October 23rd, 2005 at 2:48 am
Plus, if nee naw gives out info even once, the morons will think it’s okay to tie up the lines asking if they know what 3 across 12 down is.
You can lead them to water but you can’t make them use their bloody brains.
on October 23rd, 2005 at 10:15 am
i’d have the people that threw the firework into the train carriage clouted by the woman that whacked her boyfriend.
i also think that these people should lose the oppotunity to have any medical attention in the future though - just have their heads stamped with “idiot” so we can all spot them in the future.
sorry, these things make me a little angry…
on October 23rd, 2005 at 10:36 am
I’m actually quite surprised that everyone is giving “Little Mo” a pat on the back for what she did… obviously, I wasn’t there and can’t judge but using an iron seems to be over and above self defence. I have sympathy for her, but I think what she did was wrong.
What would you say if the roles were reversed — if a woman attacked her boyfriend and he hit her back with an iron?
I guess I could have told the bird flu woman to call NHSD or use the internet, but as Mr Anonymous says, I don’t want to make people think that it is appropriate to call 999 with queries about anything, ever, and even pointing someone in the right direction is kind of answering the query. While I was talking to her, someone having a heart attack could be waiting to get through. Plus I’m not even sure if NHSD are the right people to ring either. Aren’t they supposed to deal with people who are ill now, not people who are worried about getting ill?
At least we are all agreed that the firework people were idiots!
on October 23rd, 2005 at 2:25 pm
The firework-throwing “students” are not idiots. They are terrorists, according to the definition in the Terrorism Act 2000; sect 1, subsections 2(a), 2(c), 2(d) & 3 and I sincerely hope that they will be punished accordingly. Throwing explosives (which is what fireworks are) at people is an offence under the Explosive Substances Act 1883, sect 2; the maximum penalty for which is life imprisonment. In my book the only difference between these criminals and the 7th July murderers is one of degree.
on October 23rd, 2005 at 2:39 pm
that is a fair point actually, mark. i guess the situation makes me angry. i know of quite a few women that just put up with their abuse which not only makes their life hell, but also gives the impression to the boy”friend” that what they’re doing is ok. i guess what i think is that that particular guy’s going to think twice about hitting his partner again. i don’t condone her actions, but:
a) she’s shown she’s not just a victim
b) she clearly seems to have done it in the spur of the moment and had great remorse afterwards.
i guess it’s the same point that quixote’s making - if he hadn’t started hitting her, i doubt that she would have clouted him with an iron unprovoked…
on October 23rd, 2005 at 3:32 pm
I’ve seen youths letting off fireworks in tube tunnels. Are these people morons or just thick? Aren’t they supposed to be clever to go to Uni?
on October 23rd, 2005 at 6:07 pm
Your point about the abuse victim is fair. However, IMO, men usually have tha advantage due to weight & size so one could presume a man could subdue a woman more easily than the reverse situation.
What are the domestic violence laws in the UK? Here in Virginia the abuser would be prosecuted regardless of the victim’s wishes (I think- someone please correct me if I’m wrong).
What I wonder is- could the agressor in the above situation be prosecuted no matter what the victim wanted? Would they both be prosceuted? Neither? Would they have to file a request with the police individually?
on October 23rd, 2005 at 6:17 pm
Hello there! I just thought I’d drop in to A. Tell you you have a great blog. and B. Have a bash (pun intended) at explaining why I’d give ‘Little Mo’ there a big pat on the back.
The reason I love your blog is you come across as a very understanding and compassionate guy, with high standards of behaviour towards other people. It sounds to me like you’re thinking of what you’d do in ‘Little Mo’s shoes, The thing is, you’re unlikely to ever be in her situation (unless you’re either disabled or secretly a woman…) because the strength difference between you and another man is rarely going to be as great as the difference between ‘Little Mo’ and her boyfriend.
However, If you were by some chance attacked by somebody looking like this guy: (http://www.pudzian.pl/english/index2.php)
I really hope you’d grab whatever came to hand and whack him one, rather than tickling him by pummelling him with your (relatively puny) fists because ‘It’s never right to hit somebody with a heavy object’. Basically, you’ve got the right to self-defense and if you’re so weak compared to your attacker that an effective blow with a weapon is the only way to defend yourself effectively then you are completely justified in doing so, no guilt attached.
If the boyfriend had hit the woman with an iron, then that would be doubly bad, because his strength difference over her makes it already as if he’s using a weapon against her, even without adding anything extra.
And that’s my 2p. Next time I’ll produce some well-deserved praise rather than a lecture, honest!
S
on October 24th, 2005 at 2:04 am
Exactly, S.
on October 24th, 2005 at 3:08 am
I believe there are (US) hospital statistics that say that men are victims of domestic abuse about as often as women are; however, while female abusers are more likely to use a weapon, female victims are far more likely to be killed. So there actually are a lot of men in Little Mo’s position, and I have no problem with them doing whatever is necessary to protect themselves.
Oh, and thanks for the Eastenders spoiler; here in DC we’re four years behind what’s current in the UK, so Phil Mitchell hasn’t even been shot yet…
on October 24th, 2005 at 7:10 am
Minifig said: i’d have the people that threw the firework into the train carriage clouted by the woman that whacked her boyfriend.
Love it. Two birds with one stone.
Amanda said: What are the domestic violence laws in the UK? Here in Virginia the abuser would be prosecuted regardless of the victim’s wishes (I think- someone please correct me if I’m wrong).
No idea but here in NSW in Australia any witness can have the abuser charged with common assault.
on October 24th, 2005 at 9:42 am
Its hard to have any sympathy with regards to the bloke hit with the iron. The long and short of it is that he got what he deserved. Spike: I believe the Crown Prosecution Service can prosecute whoever they like, and the police are required to investigate all reports of domestic violence. Hopefully he will have his collar felt soon. Also hopefully she will have the courage and sense to leave him, for good.
With regards to the students I wonder which university they went to. Was it a proper university or a ex. college type university. Whichever it was the principal/chancellor would take a very dim view of this indeed. If it came to their attention and they wouldn’t remain students much longer!
They are also lucky they didn’t end up being shot given recent history….
I hope Britain doesn’t ban fireworks. They should be restricted not banned. Proofs of address and age should be sought and copies of that proof kept. They should only be for sale on the last working day before November the 5th or December the 31st (reservations/payment can be taken before that day). It should be illegal to set them off on any day other than the last two previously mentioned without some kind of permit.
I had much familly fun in my younger years watching and setting off (when older) fireworks in our garden with my family. A display does not cut it, it lacks the danger / suprise element (will it go off, moving up/down the garden sharpish to light them etc.) They are safe if you are responsible, use your brain and follow the instructions. If you don’t then you deserve a Darwin award. Don’t ruin the fun for the majority because of the criminal recklessness of the few.
on October 24th, 2005 at 1:45 pm
Amanda - I’m pretty sure that in the UK the victim needs to pursue a prosecution otherwise the abuse will go unpunished, and Gwen I find it very hard to believe that men are subject to the same amount of domestic violence as women, even despite the likelyhood it is fully reported.
“In the USA, women accounted for 85 per cent of the victims of domestic violence in 1999″Amnesty International
Violence is never right. But sometimes it can seem like the only way to survive
on October 24th, 2005 at 2:12 pm
I do have to agree with Tom on the abuse point. As a petite woman myself (5 foot nothing), pretty much any bloke could over power me. I seriously doubt any punch I could throw would knock out a woozy kitten, let alone a guy hell-bent on attacking me. A heavy object would be one of very few options open to me.
I can understand your point that you shouldn’t really use violence as a way to resolve situations, but sometimes, and it only really is SOMETIMES, it is the ONLY course of action available.
on October 24th, 2005 at 4:38 pm
Britain can’t restrict fireworks to dates because fireworks are used for other celebrations, such as Diwali which starts in the next week or so I believe. I’d be really glad if they just restricted them to organised displays which at least are time constrained so my poor bloody dog wouldn’t crap himself every 2 minutes till 3am every night in november.
on October 24th, 2005 at 8:08 pm
TP — my police friend gave a talk about domestic violence a few weeks ago and he said that in the UK the police can now prosecute without the victim’s co-operation, but this is a fairly recent change. He also mentioned that a large proportion of victims (something like 30%, I think) were male and that a lot of incidents were not cut and dry as to who was the aggressor. When I see him next I’ll ask him for the exact figures again.
on October 25th, 2005 at 4:06 am
Mark said: in the UK the police can now prosecute without the victim’s co-operation
Excellent.
on October 25th, 2005 at 10:06 am
I don’t know of any religious celebrations where fireworks are required and of course I organised displays shouldn’t be included in any date restriction (I said they should get a permit in my original post). November the 5th and to a lesser extent New Years are traditional and they should stay.
Fireworks for night after night in Oct/Nov annoy me too. Almost as much as Christmas junk for sale on the high street for half the year.
on October 25th, 2005 at 11:47 am
I think the Amnesty figure might be for around the world, possibly including some very violent areas, not just in western countries? And it’s also going to change if you do ‘percentage of people who have been hit their partner’ or ‘percentage who have been (…various degrees of severely…) injured by their partner’, because not all violent incidents will result in an injury.
on October 26th, 2005 at 2:02 pm
Thanks for that info Mark - that change in the law is good news.
I believe domestic violence with women as agressors is underreporterd, so fair enough 30% of victims may well be male. Even so 70% of victims of domestic violence are women (if we’re just comparing male/femail).
S, the Amnesty figures I used are for the US (it does say). Plus, I don’t really think severity should come into it. Violence against a partner is still violence, the severity of the violence does not make is any less terrible or frightening.
on November 1st, 2005 at 2:57 pm
The police can prosecute even if the victim withdraws her statement. The problem is that in most cases there are no independent witnesses. This means that if the victim does not want to give evidence it is difficult to prosecute (unless chummy makes admissions in his police interview/ makes the mistake of attacking the police officer as well). One ioption is for the victim to be forced to come to court and treated as a ‘hostile witness’ - which she may find very traumatic.
Domestic violence does affect men as well - very hard to give figures as you can only go by what is reported - many victims (of both genders) don’t report it. I work as a solicitor and often deal with domsetic vioelnce injunctions - my experience is that if you get as far as court (for an injunction) Courts treat victims the same regardless of gender and sexuality.
on November 3rd, 2005 at 11:11 pm
IVE JUST REPORTED ONE OF MY FRIENDS TO THE POLICE FOR SETTING OFF A FIREWORK INSIDE A TRAIN. DO YOU THINK I DID THE RIGHT THING?
on November 19th, 2005 at 11:02 am
Domestic violence:
At what point would he have stopped if she hadn’t hit him?
on November 19th, 2005 at 9:09 pm
Well, we’ll never know. He might have stopped already… he might only have slapped her in the first place!
WEED: YES! NOW GIVE YOUR CAPS LOCK A REST!!!11
on January 30th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
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on March 15th, 2006 at 7:21 am
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on April 29th, 2006 at 4:46 am
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