On June 17, my husband took a misstep on our basement stairs and was unable to get up. I immediately called 911 to get help. I was appalled to listen to a recorded “we can’t answer now, please stay on the line” message three times (in English and Spanish) before reaching an operator. If this had been a cardiac event or an accident involving heavy bleeding, I’m quite sure it would have been fatal.

This is obviously not the type of response anyone should have to deal with in what could have been a life-or-death situation. It is imperative that this situation be improved – lives depend on it!

The EMTs who responded were professional and thorough. Following knee surgery my husband is doing fine. But I dread the possibility of others going through that agonizing wait for a timely response.

Jan Grassel, Portland