Why did 911 ask if I was white?

[Radical Activist]

So I had a little incident in my workplace recently. Me and one other person were attacked and we had to call 911. If the cops had shown up sooner it wouldn't have happened, but whatever. I'm fine, but it struck me as odd that the 911 operator asked my race after asking if we needed medical assitance. I heard the phone conversation and jokingly asked if me being white meant the medics would get there faster. I was kidding but the person talking to the operator thought it was funny and actually asked that question. I don't know what response she got.

I laugh about it, but really, what was that all about? I've run into more racism since I moved to this state than anywhere else combined.

[HEyHEY]

1. Talk to your local paper about that

seriously

[bigbillhaywood]

2. I second that. nt

[Radical Activist]

8. They won't care

The town paper is conservative and I'm sure there are far worse incidents of racial discrimination that never make the news.

[calico1]

3. To give them the benefit of the doubt the only reason

I could think of is they asked for purposes of description to know how to find you. But then again you were conscious so that is kind of strange. I have never called 911 so don't know what kind of questions they tend to ask. What State are you in?

[Radical Activist]

6. I'd like to think that's why

I'm not aware that they asked for any other identifying information and there were plenty of people around to identify me when they arrived. So, it seems odd.
Arkansas

[calico1]

12. Hmmm....then maybe you might

want to follow up and find out just what kind of questions they tend to ask. Someone else mentioned it could be for statistical reasons. I know that when they say something like "40% of mugging victims are white" (or whatever) they must use several methods for compiling the statistical data. Obviously it was not to identify you. Even if you had been passed out on the ground, the person that calls 911 usually hangs around til help gets there. I can't imagine too manhy people calling 911 and then leaving the scene with someone injured or passed out. And I would imagine the 911 operator would want them to stay until help got there for questioning. It may be nothing but it might be worth looking into just to make sure its not meant to be racist. They keep tapes of all calls so they'd be able to look into it if it were necessary.

[No2W2004]

4. that's strange....

I can understand asking that about the person causing the problems, but I can't understand why they would need to know that about you.

Statistics maybe? :shrug:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. did they ask other descriptive factors?

like shirt color, hair or pants?

[Radical Activist]

7. I don't think so

I wasn't the one making the call but I heard most of the conversation and don't believe anything else like that was asked.

[Hoping4Change]

9. I think its definitely inappropriate. Have you thought of calling

NAACP and run it by them?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Write the Arkansas Times

It's a liberal paper (one of the few in the state) with a state-wide coverage. They'd be interested in following this up, I'm sure.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

24. Because lots of time they will give the cops arriving a description

of the caller, it helps them sort things out in their mind when they arrive on a chaotic scene to have a pretty good idea of who called and why.

That is the only legitimate reason.

[amazona]

10. ...so that if you're white they'll know to get there faster?

I really don't know how you can put a good spin on this. Wow! That is some rude question!

[jilln]

13. I'm pretty sure I've read...

that African-Americans are more likely to have certain blood types than whites, and are more prone to certain diseases and allergies than whites, so maybe that's why they were asking, to make sure they had compatible blood in the ambulance or something?

It's hard for me to believe that they would have a policy of asking that for racist reasons, because even if they were racists they would have to be pretty stupid to ask it that up front.

[Radical Activist]

14. hmm...that sounds plausible

Maybe that's it. I doubt they would have a policy of racism, but I don't doubt they have some racists working as operators.

[jilln]

15. but then again

if you told them you weren't hurt there goes the theory!

[Radical Activist]

19. Well, I'm fine now

but I was hurt at the time and thought one of us might need a medic.

[havocmom]

21. Very doubtful an ambulance would carry blood. Plasma yes, but blood?

I am Rh negative which is more common in blacks than whites. If they are gonna make an assumption about blood type based solely on asking if I am white, I would likely die fast.

My bro ran an EMT rig out of Malibu for years and they never carried whole blood, only plasma and they NEVER inquired about anyone's race nor did any 911 dispatcher ever advise them of someone's race.

Take this info (have the person who actually made the call write it down pronto so important details are not forgotten) and give it to the more liberal papers in your state, the NAACP and maybe any citizens' watchdog organization keeping an eye on police/emergency response teams.

[PragMantisT]

16. Ask Chuck D.

911 is a joke!

In all honesty, sorry. I live here too, and it's still an antebellum state.

Glad you are OK. I'd like to hear what happened. Was it in the paper?

Keep the faith.

[AndyTiedye]

17. A Friend of Mine Reported Being Asked That in Texas a While Back

He'd called 911 to report that a pedestrian had been run over by a car --
a hit-and-run.
They asked him what color the victim was.
It was night, and it wasn't obvious, and the 911 operator actually wanted
him to go out and determine this vital piece of information before she
would send an ambulance.
It was a question of which ambulance to send.

My friend moved out of Texas shortly after that.

[Radical Activist]

18. Segregated ambulences?

There has to be some logical reason for that. Or maybe not.

[traco]

20. I had to call for assistance

several years ago for rape, the operator asked my nationality and that of the man who attacked me. I don't know why.

[Susang]

22. Did they ask your age, approx. weight or anything else similar to that?

I once had to call 911 because a man collapsed (and died) right in front of me at the restaurant I was managing. They asked me his race, approximate age, weight, etc., while the ambulance was on the way. They then transmited that information to the ambulance. They told me it saved time and helped them to treat the patient more effectively.

Of course, I have no idea if that's what was going on in your case. I'm certainly not naive enough to think that racism doesn't occur with 911 operators. Hope you're doing better.

[Radical Activist]

23. refer to posts 5 & 7

Thanks!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

25. My boyfriend's mom is close with the EMTs here...

And she works for a doctor. This is not STANDARD practice, and I live in oklahoma. Please, contact the local media, the NAACP, someone. This has got to stop.
Duckie

[Lisa0825]

26. As a contractor for a state agency, I ask about race

"for demographic purposes." It should have nothing to do with services, but can be used to study what populations are being served, and if there is a statistical lack of services to a certain community, then studies can be done to find out how to better reach that community.

Not sure if that was their purpose, but supposedly that is why we ask.