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.
It91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渓iterally taught me CPR over the phone91裸聊视频� and she wanted to thank the woman for helping her.
A colleague of Rumsby91裸聊视频檚 who was familiar with the call read the story from the and let Rumsby know about it.
91裸聊视频淓verything91裸聊视频檚 done over the phone and once you91裸聊视频檙e done, you91裸聊视频檙e on to the next job,91裸聊视频� Rumsby said from Victoria. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 heartwarming to hear that he survived.91裸聊视频�
She said she doesn91裸聊视频檛 often open up about her job. She compartmentalizes it, and when she leaves the dispatch centre for the day, she leaves the job behind.
It91裸聊视频檚 a survival tactic: 91裸聊视频淩ight now, there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of compassion fatigue. It91裸聊视频檚 an exhausting job at the best of times,91裸聊视频� she said, but added the opioid crisis has made it even tougher for 911 dispatchers and other first responders.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 days here where we could have seven or eight call-takers and they91裸聊视频檙e all coaching CPR to people in different communities in B.C.
91裸聊视频淎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,91裸聊视频� Rumsby said.
91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
While Carol Klock gives Rumsby all the credit with helping her stay calm, Rumsby said Carol91裸聊视频檚 ability to stay composed was the most important aspect of helping her husband.
91裸聊视频淭his woman performed those skills in the worst of circumstances, 91裸聊视频� Rumsby wrote in a Facebook post about the story. 91裸聊视频淭hanks to her staying calm and composed and doing the most effective CPR possible, her husband is alive today.91裸聊视频�
Rumsby hopes stories such as the Klocks will inspire people to learn how to perform CPR.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 really important for everyone to take a CPR course, even a hands-only CPR,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚f somebody knows CPR, the second they see someone collapse 91裸聊视频� it could mean life or death for that patient.91裸聊视频�
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.
