Wednesday, June 8, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Dispatcher talks wife through CPR for fallen husbandLifesaving measures a team concept for 911 dispatchersBy JOHN MUNFORD Fayette County 911 dispatchers have been recognized for helping a Peachtree City woman perform lifesaving CPR on her husband when he suffered cardiac arrest several weeks ago. The dispatcher who took the call handed her normal duties to another dispatcher so she could concentrate on helping the wife, who to her credit was calm and collected, said Peggy Glaze, assistant director of Fayette Countys 911 Center. Meanwhile, a Peachtree City police officer was dispatched to the scene with a portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which ultimately shocked the patient twice in an attempt to restart his heart, officials said. A Peachtree City medic crew began lifesaving measures, and thats when the victim began to regain his pulse and tried to start breathing on his own, said Lt. Peki Prince of the Peachtree City Fire Department. The patient was stabilized at Piedmont Fayette Hospital and later treated at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta before being released, Prince said. The dispatchers were very excited to learn about the patients good outcome, Glaze said. It meant so much to us to find out we had a save, Glaze said, adding that it took a team effort among the four dispatchers. While the first dispatcher worked with the wife on administering CPR, a second operator took over dispatching medical calls while the other two worked law enforcement calls, Glaze said. The system really worked, Glaze said. In addition to CPR, Fayette dispatchers are also trained to give over-the-phone assistance for maladies such as burns, cuts, bruises and choking. One time, they even talked a man through delivering a baby before medics were able to arrive on scene, Glaze noted. The dispatchers work closely with the countys medical staff including Assistant Chief Allen McCullough of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Glaze added. Prince said she was glad that the dispatchers got credit for their assistance, since firefighters, paramedics and police often get thanks when they help residents, while the public doesnt get to meet dispatchers because they work in the 911 center. |
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Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |