911 dispatcher trainee saves own son's life
Listen to the 9-1-1 tape of the frantic mother's call »
OLYMPIA, Wash. - A 9-1-1 dispatcher was undergoing refresher training earlier this month when he took a call from a hysterical mother reporting that her baby was choking and couldn't breathe.
When the woman gave her address, the trainee realized it was his own wife - and she was calling about his own child.
Nevertheless, he responded so calmly - dispatching medics on the call then advising the mother how to unblock the baby's airway - that the dispatcher's trainer had no idea the child was his own until after the baby's airway was cleared and the call ended.
It turned out, Jakob was choking on some plastic wrapping from a medicine bottle.
Here, in trainer Tammy Clark's own words, is what happened that fateful afternoon of Feb. 4 when a 911 came in at 1:57 p.m. and was answered by the trainee, Chris Scott:
"I want to tell you about the call my trainee took today. Chris is a Marine reservist who just got back after a deployment to Iraq. He is in his final stages of training and while taking calls today he took a choking baby call.
"Chris calmly confirmed the hysterical woman's address and gets help started in her direction. He stays calm throughout the call while going to the appropriate choking tab and starts to give pre-arrival instructions.
"After one full set of back blows the baby's airway is cleared and the infant starts to cry. Chris stays on the line and ensures the baby's breathing normally until the fire department arrives.
"After he gets off the phone I get up to tell him what a great job he did and that he saved the child's life. Chris looks a little shaken and says 'that was my baby.' During the call I am completely unaware that the caller is his wife and the baby that is not breathing is Chris's own son, Jakob.
"At that point we realize what had transpired and send him home to be with his wife and son. The baby was treated and released by the local fire department. Chris stopped by later with his wife and son in tow. What an amazing and wonderful call. ... Semper Fi!"
Friday, the family showed off a healthy baby Jakob.
"It was really good for me to have (Chris) on the line," said Janna Scott. "I trust him, and I know he knows what he's doing."
For his part, Chris said he never thought he'd be on the line when a family member needed help.
"It was always in the back of my mind," he said. "A little bit afraid that it would happen -- that a family member needed help and how I would handle it. But now that it's over and done with, I'm just happy with the end result."
Listen to the 9-1-1 tape of the frantic mother's call »
OLYMPIA, Wash. - A 9-1-1 dispatcher was undergoing refresher training earlier this month when he took a call from a hysterical mother reporting that her baby was choking and couldn't breathe.
When the woman gave her address, the trainee realized it was his own wife - and she was calling about his own child.
Nevertheless, he responded so calmly - dispatching medics on the call then advising the mother how to unblock the baby's airway - that the dispatcher's trainer had no idea the child was his own until after the baby's airway was cleared and the call ended.
It turned out, Jakob was choking on some plastic wrapping from a medicine bottle.
Here, in trainer Tammy Clark's own words, is what happened that fateful afternoon of Feb. 4 when a 911 came in at 1:57 p.m. and was answered by the trainee, Chris Scott:
"I want to tell you about the call my trainee took today. Chris is a Marine reservist who just got back after a deployment to Iraq. He is in his final stages of training and while taking calls today he took a choking baby call.
"Chris calmly confirmed the hysterical woman's address and gets help started in her direction. He stays calm throughout the call while going to the appropriate choking tab and starts to give pre-arrival instructions.
"After one full set of back blows the baby's airway is cleared and the infant starts to cry. Chris stays on the line and ensures the baby's breathing normally until the fire department arrives.
"After he gets off the phone I get up to tell him what a great job he did and that he saved the child's life. Chris looks a little shaken and says 'that was my baby.' During the call I am completely unaware that the caller is his wife and the baby that is not breathing is Chris's own son, Jakob.
"At that point we realize what had transpired and send him home to be with his wife and son. The baby was treated and released by the local fire department. Chris stopped by later with his wife and son in tow. What an amazing and wonderful call. ... Semper Fi!"
Friday, the family showed off a healthy baby Jakob.
"It was really good for me to have (Chris) on the line," said Janna Scott. "I trust him, and I know he knows what he's doing."
For his part, Chris said he never thought he'd be on the line when a family member needed help.
"It was always in the back of my mind," he said. "A little bit afraid that it would happen -- that a family member needed help and how I would handle it. But now that it's over and done with, I'm just happy with the end result."
Listen to the 9-1-1 tape of the frantic mother's call »