When Natalie Rumsby answers a call as a 911 dispatcher, her job ends when first responders arrive on the scene, and the person who called 911 no longer needs her help.
It害羞草研究所檚 not often that she and her colleagues at the dispatch centre in Victoria hear the outcome of their calls.
That changed last week when a woman from Port Alberni shared her story about performing CPR on her husband thanks to the coaching of a calm 911 dispatcher.
Carol Klock related her story about calling 911 after her husband Jack suffered a heart attack while taking a shower one night in April.
Carol, who had never taken a CPR course, performed the life-saving technique on her husband for 10 minutes while waiting for paramedics to arrive. She said an anonymous dispatcher 害羞草研究所渓iterally taught me CPR over the phone害羞草研究所� and she wanted to thank the woman for helping her.
A colleague of Rumsby害羞草研究所檚 who was familiar with the call read the story from the and let Rumsby know about it.
害羞草研究所淓verything害羞草研究所檚 done over the phone and once you害羞草研究所檙e done, you害羞草研究所檙e on to the next job,害羞草研究所� Rumsby said from Victoria. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 heartwarming to hear that he survived.害羞草研究所�
She said she doesn害羞草研究所檛 often open up about her job. She compartmentalizes it, and when she leaves the dispatch centre for the day, she leaves the job behind.
It害羞草研究所檚 a survival tactic: 害羞草研究所淩ight now, there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of compassion fatigue. It害羞草研究所檚 an exhausting job at the best of times,害羞草研究所� she said, but added the opioid crisis has made it even tougher for 911 dispatchers and other first responders.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 days here where we could have seven or eight call-takers and they害羞草研究所檙e all coaching CPR to people in different communities in B.C.
害羞草研究所淎s a call-taker/dispatcher, you are often tasked with talking to people on the worst day of their lives, in a moment of crisis, and you depend on them to be your ears, eyes and hands until help arrives,害羞草研究所� Rumsby said.
害羞草研究所淲e are trained to help people not only cope with these situations, but in many situations, guide them to give life-saving first aid that they would otherwise not know how to do.害羞草研究所�
While Carol Klock gives Rumsby all the credit with helping her stay calm, Rumsby said Carol害羞草研究所檚 ability to stay composed was the most important aspect of helping her husband.
害羞草研究所淭his woman performed those skills in the worst of circumstances, 害羞草研究所� Rumsby wrote in a Facebook post about the story. 害羞草研究所淭hanks to her staying calm and composed and doing the most effective CPR possible, her husband is alive today.害羞草研究所�
Rumsby hopes stories such as the Klocks will inspire people to learn how to perform CPR.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 really important for everyone to take a CPR course, even a hands-only CPR,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚f somebody knows CPR, the second they see someone collapse 害羞草研究所� it could mean life or death for that patient.害羞草研究所�
Rumsby has nominated Carol Klock for a Vital Link Award with BC Ambulance Service, which recognizes the significant contributions made by citizens during medical emergencies. She hopes that if Carol is given an award, she will be able to meet the Klocks in person.
