Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

We had a rescue call last night that involved an 11 year old boy loosing his life. Here are the details I can release,,,

2031 hrs I get a 911 call from a male telling me that some kids need help under a bridge here in town, reported as a boy buried to his waist. I send my LEO's and then toned out fire/rescue, then called EMS. We had to close the state highway that it was on. We then find out the boy was buried head first and suffocated. Some good Samaritans were there giving CPR and the young boy was pronounced at the hospital 20 minutes after getting him out.

I'm a bit down because of this and the fact I have children in this age bracket and worry about them. I'm second guessing that if I had started EMS first then LEO and fire/rescue; would it have made a difference? But I found out after the fact that the boy was buried for 20 minutes.

Don't ask me what they were doing at a creek with a flash flood watch in effect, because no one knows yet. The other kid with him is still in shock and can't answer questions coherently yet.

This is the second time in 2 years that I have questioned my decisions as a dispatcher and would it have made a difference, and I don't like the feeling.

{{{hugs}}}


I think you did the right thing. Your LEO's may well be able to get there before FD/EMS, so that gave them the jump on the call.

My agency only dispatches the LEO side, but we are the PSAP, and we would have started deputies on this kind of call.

Is there any way you can participate in a debriefing on the call? Every dispatcher I've talked to about debriefing with on-scene responders has said it was really helpful.

I've been in your shoes though....it's hard to walk the fine line between second guessing to be better the next time, and beating yourself up.

Don't beat yourself up. :)

*Offers up a hug*

I'm not a dispatcher....but I understand that your job is very difficult. I am sorry about this incidint but all you can do it move on and keep doing the right thing.

I believe that you did the right thing, as said before me the officers are usually at the scene before EMS/FD.

With all this said I really do think there need to be many more people like you, ones that care about there decisions affecting other people. I'm sorry for this incident but you are doing the right thing. Nothing you could have done to prevent this child from sufficateing. If he was under there for 20mins. Dont beat yourself up over this.

When kids are involved it is always that little harder. I doubt whoever you dispatched first the boy would have survived, not if he was in head first, you know it doesn't take long before lack of oxygen kills. Take it easy on you and talk through your feelings with someone at work if you can

Well, 4 hours of sleep and half a bottle of Jim Beam Whiskey later... Nothing I could have done different. Thanks for the support everyone. :)

Yep, if PD's out on the streets, they've got a good jump on EMS responding from a station. Even if they get notified later than us, they're usually there first.

Now then, about that bottle of whiskey... Alcohol does not solve problems, it only makes you temporarily forget about them. We all drink every now and then, but to knock off a half a bottle as a means of coping...? Uncool. I've seen people go from straight arrows to alcoholics in this field. Please, consume in moderation and find a healthy means of release.

+1 to StationM and MDEMT280 for thier posts.

If the kid had been buried for 20 minutes, having Fire next door to the victim would not have made a difference. If counselors are available for your department, make use of one. Sometimes it helps to get it out. If one is not, use your minister, your friend (who knows when not to say anything), or maybe another dispatcher who has done the same thing.

I am assuming you were joking about the Jim Beam. If you were not, I strongly suggest you find another release.

I am assuming you were joking about the Jim Beam. If you were not, I strongly suggest you find another release.

Ok so half a bottle may have been an exaggeration. :o It was only 2 tall 7&7's and I did go and talk to the department chaplain.

And now that there are more details that I can share...

The kids were digging caves and the one kid was digging down at an angle and the sand caved in around him. His friend tried to dig him out but couldn't. There were 3 of the towns "bad" kids driving by and went to his aid and dug him out and started CPR. The officers were there in less than 2 minutes and took over CPR, medics heard the call go out and started to respond before being dispatched. We had to send in a wrecker to lift the basket and backboard up from the creek due to high water conditions. The Doctors worked on him at the ER for 30 minutes before they called it. So I can conclude that NOTHING I could have done different would have made one iota of difference.

That said... A round of beer for everyone! Thanks for the support.

Whew. I take it talking to the chaplain helped a bit?

PVPD, don't beat yourself at all.

Things happen in life.

Kids do dumb things (no disrespect meant to the poor kid).

We do what we can, but we can't be everywhere all the time. Sometimes it just comes down to the simple fact that faeces occurs (or sh1t happens - whichever suits).

As you said, there was nothing you could have done better or worse. You just did what you could and in this case, that was all you could do.

Try and find a positive out of every crap situation.

In this one it sounds like the 3 "bad kids" that stopped to help might have at least tried to do something good for a change. Hopefully seeing emergency services working in a crisis situation might give them a brief look at what we do and might be one small step towards a new found respect for us. You never know. At the very least, the next time they come to Police attention, it might be the cops that attended this incident and they (the kids) might just react a bit more positively, having shared (with the cops) in a bad situation. If that happens, then at least one small good thing might come from this.

Thinking of you. Chin up.

Send out EMS right away and wait for an officer to respond or send an officer to check before calling EMS. You made the choice you felt was appropriate. It's not your fault the kid lost his life. You can only provide the services necessary and hope for the best.