An Unusual Request

To the Editor:

Late Sunday night, I was on the phone with a friend from Georgia who was working the night shift as a front desk clerk at a hotel. He was the only one on duty. He told me he had been nauseous all day, having chest pains, and numbness at times. I told him he needed to go to the hospital. He said he would at 6 am when he got off. During our conversation the phone call dropped, and I could not reach him again.

I called 911 here in Newtown and told them I needed to contact the Tifton, Ga., 911 center. They said they couldn’t put me through, but would take the information and contact them directly. I know this was the most unusual request they had ever had, and I really didn’t think they would follow up. I gave them his name, place of employment, and symptoms.

At 6 am the next morning, my friend called. Told me he was just leaving the hospital. It turns out, the 911 center here in Newtown did contact the 911 center over 1,000 miles away in Georgia, and within eight minutes, a rescue squad accompanied by two police cars was at his place of employment. His blood pressure was 210/189 and he was rushed to the hospital. Rescue workers there told him within the hour, had he not been treated, he would undoubtedly have had a heart attack.

It turns out, since he suffers from lymphoma and takes several medications, two medications caused the problem.

Many, many thanks to our 911 center for the 21-year-old’s life they saved over 1,000 miles away. An unusual request — and a job well done!

Kristin Mills

86 Main Street, Newtown                                           January 14, 2009