By Oceana

May 8, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this

Hi guys. My father hated radio and could not wait for television to be invented so he could hate that too.
I am from East and too poorly know English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: "Airlines, airports, flying, airline tickets, tourist, tourism, airfares."

Thank :( Oceana.

By Neal

May 7, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this

Hi everyone. What makes the engine go? Desire, desire, desire.
I am from Armenia and bad know English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "Book your flights to beijing, china pek visit expedia."

Thanks for the help :D, Neal.

By Margaret Shaw

Aug 13, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this

I had an accident on I-85 Aug. 2 and was left on the side of the road for about an hour and a half. The 911 operator kept saying it was not Atlanta's jurisdiction (between Clairmont road and I-75). She kept routing me around to different places. Then she got testy with me. I was desperate. I had my child in the car and two dogs and no water. I was not surprised to hear this woman died.

By lanell

Aug 13, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

I was shocked to hear how many infractions this person had at work before she finally was fired. My heart goes out to this family. I do feel however that the 911 operator was only fired in an attempt to keep the family from filing suit against the City. This woman had been on the job 17 years and the news reported that over 2100 pages of disciplinary actions was found on her. In the past five years she was caught sleeping about 7 times in addition to arguments on the job that caused her to have to be written up. She clearly shouldn't have been on the other end of such an important phone call. It is already understood that Ms. Duke wouldn't have died had this woman not answered this call. The EMS took only 5 minutes to reach her home once they discovered they were sent to the wrong address. This means she could have had help right away, been transferred to the hospital in most likely enough time to save her life. That is sad, disappointing and unneccissary. May God help her. Those poor kids.

By Mellisa

Aug 10, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

I wonder how many people actually heard this call. It is very disturbing to listen to. What's is even worse is the operator's obvious frustration at the end of the call. She is saying "hellllooooo" like an obnoxious teenager trying to get someone's attention. She was no more qualified to be handling this call than someone taking a Burger King order. What happened to actually training these people. Do they get more than a weekend tutorial before they are let go to handle these life and death calls? Wouldn't you expect to have some sort of difficulty when you are on the phone with a woman who's lungs are filling with blood. I see the transcript has been release but actually listen to this call--you will not belive it. My heart goes out to the Duke family and her children.

By cys

Aug 8, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

It is so sad to hear such thing happens so close to you. Although I do not know Darlene personally, St. Andrew's Apartment is only a mile from my home. My heart is with her family and kinds, may she rest in peace.

I also want to clarify some misconception about cellphone technology. A 911 call is emergency call, it preempt all other normal calls. That means if a tower is busy, it will just drop some other call and pick up the 911 call. It does not need to be routed to further tower. And cell tower only has limit range (a few miles), there is no way for for a cellphone in Atlanta to reach a tower in Johns Creek.

And there is technology (at least ten years old) that allows us to locate a cell phone caller within a few feet when he is making phone call. (They use three towers to located position of a cell phone, a technology similar to GPS).

Unfortunately this technology has not been used to save life in this case. We can pinpoint a terrorist the minute he picks up his cell phone and sends him a cruise missle, yet it can take a hour to locate somebody who is dying and send a ambulance.

By Katrina

Aug 8, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

I had an opportunity to meet and spend some quality time with Darlene several years ago. We actually met through a mutual friend. It's very hard to explain such a tragedy. Many of us have questions. In a time like this we look for answers and even some times we place blame. The reality of it is each and everyone of us has an appointed time to leave this earth and we don't know the circumstances or chain of events that will lead to our death.

While I know its a very difficult time for Darlene's family and friends, I'm sure the dispatcher has a heavy burden as well. Having to live the rest of your life thinking that your mistake caused an individual her life can be worse than death itself. In a time like this we should have compassion for all parties involved.

For those of you who had the privilege to know Darlene and to be a part of her life hold on to the positive things. Don't let anger rob you of those precious moments and special times you had with her. My heart goes out to the her sons. They really need the short and long-term support of family and friends. Negative energy such as anger, fault finding, etc. doesn't help at a time such as this.

Please know that I am praying with and for the family and friends.. I don't have any answers but know that God sits high on the throne, he's sovereign, and he's the one that can bring you true comfort during this trying time. Although she has left this earth, have comfort in knowing that she's in a better place. She will not be forgotten.....................

By Raven

Aug 7, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

I am so sickened by this whole situation, Darlene was a very close friend of the family, and I too wished that she was with a family member at this time. I sat with the family on Tuesday evening before they found out about this terrible mistake, and oblivious lack procedural follow through. They were already devastated, this is like pouring alcohol on an open wound. Personally I can't even come to terms what this is going to mean to her boys. I hope her death won't be in vain, and that the errors that lead to her most untimely death will be corrected so no other people will have to lose their love ones

By Jenifer

Aug 7, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

I would like to express my sympathy to the family of Ms. Dukes and may God be with you all during this very difficult time.

By briana

Aug 7, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

that was my aunt we loved her all i can say is why she should still be here i miss her dearly .