Emergency Comms
Haven’t made any posts recently as my father has been ill while on holiday.
It’s interesting to see how mobile phones have played a vital part in the whole experience, sometimes good, sometimes bad. My mother was able to call me from her mobile to my mobile as soon as my father was taken ill. She was also able to call the emergency services, which was lucky as the coverage in the cottage where they were is marginal at best.
When she tried to call me back to say to which hospital he was being taken - the call did not come through and went to voicemail! In a state of nerves she didn’t leave a message saying where they were going, and of course in an ambulance and the hospital her phone had to be switched off.
I had to drive towards the general area and the first (regional) hospital was able to track them down for me and I was able to find out that he was settled in and not critical.
Mobiles also played a critical role in contacting family members and ensuring they were up to date.
What would we have done before mobiles? Call boxes and hotel charges I supose, but it would certainly have been a very different and even more distressing experience.
