911, what is your emergency?

On our way home from childbirth class Morgan and I were driving down Ogelthorpe Street in downtown Savannah. As we were sitting at a red light we heard a car slam on their brakes. As we looked over to where the sound was coming from we witnessed a car slam in to a bicyclist crossing the street. She lay there pretty motionless afterwards, but was moaning so we knew she was conscious. We pulled over and Morgan handed me his cell phone (since I know Savannah much better than him and knew where we were) and I called 911.

It was a surreal experience. You hear 911 calls on t.v. but you never think that you will ever have to participate in one. I was kind of ticked off because it took them about 8 rings before they picked up. I explained what we had witnessed and as she was asking me questions like, it the bicyclist moving/okay? What does the car look like? Can you see the license plate? Is the driver okay?, I could hear about three other 911 dispatchers in the background asking the same questions so I was relieved to know that many other witnesses were calling in about the same thing at the same time. As I was wrapping up the conversation two police cars were on the scene and I could hear the ambulance on it's way. I have to say, they were very responsive and I hope that the girl will be okay.

It felt good to know that I participated in helping someone, even though I'm sure my call wasn't the first one they received. And I'm happy to know that when faced with an emergency I was able to stay calm and actually be of some use. Just knowing that at any time, during a crisis, so many people stepped up to the plate makes me feel a little safer. Everyone's looking out for everyone else.

It was enough adrenaline to last me a long time.