Don’t misguide emergency dept

Dear Sir,

It was shocking to learn that 90% of the calls received by the Emergency Services Department are not genuine (“Emergency dept in Qatar set to enhance services”, Gulf Times, October 13).
According to the report, children often dialled the emergency number as a prank. This should not be taken in a light vein. The department often has to deal with life and death situations and attempts to misuse or misguide it should be prevented.
Parents have a vital role in this and children, if found to be making prank calls to the emergency department, should be dealt with firmly.
Campaigns should regularly be conducted to inform the public about the need to stop making prank calls to the department as they lead to waste of time and effort for its staff. In some countries, the emergency services release details of time-wasting calls they receive in a bid to urge people to think twice before calling 999.
The department, it is understood, also receives calls with strange requests for help. The Gulf Times report says that a woman sought the department’s help to get a mouse out of her oven while another person called to complain about the slow service at the hotel where he was staying!
Another person called 999 after midnight, seeking the police’s help in catching birds around his house, which apparently deprived him of sleep.
There must be a way to make such callers pay for misusing the essential service.
The emergency department, taking the cue from other countries, should publicise details of such nonsense calls periodically.
The department is doing a great service in Qatar and all residents should be appreciative of that.

Rajesh Nair, rajeshnair.it@gmail.com

Welcome move at Airport Park

Dear Sir,

It is appreciated that caretakers are no longer allowing people to play football at the Airport Park. This is a huge relief to those using the park for their daily strolls and jogging.
The footballers were becoming a regular nuisance at the park, spoiling its quiet atmosphere. Many times balls struck by the players had hit people walking on the footpath at the park.
One hopes the current ban on football in the park would be permanent.

SN, (Full name and address supplied)

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