Governor Perdue Honors 9-1-1 Professionals, Young Heroes

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

 

 

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue proclaimed today 9-1-1 Day in Georgia, honoring 9-1-1 professionals and 15 young 9-1-1 heroes from around the state at a ceremony at the State Capitol. The annual ceremony recognizes the dedication and commitment of approximately 2,500 professionals who operate local and regional 9-1-1 centers throughout Georgia.

"The 9-1-1 system is an essential service that we should never take for granted," Governor Perdue said. "Countless lives are saved each year by citizens dialing 9-1-1 during emergencies. It is a privilege to say 'thank you' for a job well done."

The program also recognizes children from across the state that successfully used 9-1-1 during the past year in an emergency.

"These boys and girls showed a tremendous amount of composure and maturity in the midst of a crisis, and they deserve our praise," said Governor Perdue. “I hope today's event encourages parents to sit down with their children and talk about what to do in emergency situations.”

This year's 9-1-1 Heroes are: 13-year old Alexus Amis of Henry County; 7-year old Rachel Anderson, 12-year old Gus Galloway and 12-year old Nick Parrish of Banks County; 6-year old Edgar Devane of Schley County; 12-year old Ashley Dixon and 9-year old Ipo Roig of Clayton County; 11-year old Allen Hetzel and 11-year old Tabitha Kelly of Forsyth County; 10-year old Tahjana Hill of Fulton County; 11-year old Zachery and 5-year old Tanner Moore of Rockdale County; 3-year old Cody Roy Myrick of Jasper County; 5-year old Jay'len Quarles of Douglas County; and 9-year old Matthew Sparr of Fayette County.

"9-1-1 is the lifeline of emergency response," said Georgia Emergency Management Agency Director Charley English.  "We are honoring the 9-1-1 professionals who work so hard to operate the system and who have earned our gratitude. We also recognize these fine young people who activiated the system to save lives."

Access to 9-1-1 in Georgia has been greatly improved in recent years. In early 2004, only 121 counties had enhanced 9-1-1 services that allowed dispatchers and calltakers to identify the location of a call. Today, 154 counties have, or are implementing, enhanced 9-1-1 service.

The names of the children honored and their stories are below:

 

Name: Alexus Amis

Age at the Time of the Incident: 12

County: Henry County E9-1-1

Calltaker: Kelly Hickey

Alexus Amis demonstrated extreme presence of mind on November 18, 2006, when she dialed 9-1-1 after her father complained of dizziness, then fell unconscious. As her mother tended to her father, Alexus answered Dispatcher Kelly Hickey's questions and relayed her instructions until paramedics arrived. 

 

Name: Rachel Brooke Anderson

Age at the Time of the Incident: 7

County: Banks County E9-1-1

Calltaker: Sonny Bellinger

When her mother complained of difficulty breathing on September 28, 2006, Rachel Anderson knew she had to take action. She called 9-1-1 right away. Rachel correctly recited her address and described her house, and first responders were quickly dispatched to the scene. After the ambulance arrived, Rachel thanked Dispatcher Sonny Bellinger for helping her. “I was so impressed and touched by what this 7-year-old daughter did for her mother in a crisis,” says Dispatcher Bellinger. “I was thoroughly amazed by her ability to handle this type of situation.”

 

Name: Edgar Devane

Age at the Time of the Incident: 6

County: Middle Flint Regional E9-1-1

Calltaker: Maria Kilby

Edgar Devane was enjoying an overnight visit with his grandmother on April 1, 2006, when she fell to the floor unconscious. Edgar realized he had to call 9-1-1. Many 6-year-olds do not know their own parents' names or addresses, yet Edgar was able to recite his grandmother's. He followed Dispatcher Maria Kilby's instructions and he never panicked. “Thanks to Edgar's quick thinking, his grandmother has him to thank for saving her life,” says Dispatcher Kilby.

 

Name: Ashley Dixon

Age at the Time of the Incident: 12

County: Clayton County Police/9-1-1 Division

Calltaker: Lori Greene

On June 15, 2006, Ashley Dixon watched in horror as her older sister was so severely burned by hot oil in a household accident that her skin began to fall away from her body. Acting quickly, a distraught Ashley placed her sister into a shower to ease her pain, than frantically called 9-1-1. Suddenly, her sister went into a seizure. With patience and gentle guidance, Dispatcher Lori Greene calmed Ashley and extracted the information needed to send help. Through it all, Ashley's love and dedication to her family was evident. Thanks to Ashley's efforts, her sister received necessary medical attention.

 

Name: Gus Galloway and Nick Parrish

Age at the Time of the Incident: 12 (both)

County: Banks County E9-1-1

Calltaker: Selena Manley

Gus Galloway did not hesitate to call 9-1-1 on November 24, 2006, after his friend's pant leg caught around a small tree while he was riding a four-wheeler, and his foot was pulled under the wheel. Gus told Dispatcher Selena Manley that the foot was obviously broken, and they would meet first responders at the nearby Parrish residence. After giving the group time to move the victim, Dispatcher Manley called the Parrish home for more information about the child's condition. This time, she spoke with Nick, who calmly answered all her questions, expediting the emergency response.  

 

Name: Allen Hetzel

Age at the Time of the Incident: 11

County: Forsyth County 9-1-1 Center

Calltaker: Boyd Kendrick

Allen Hetzel wasn't sure why his house alarm went off on November 6, 2006, but he was home alone with his younger sister, and he didn't want to take any chances. So, he dialed 9-1-1. Allen remained composed, provided his address and followed Dispatcher Kendrick's instructions to take his sister to a safe room and wait for police. Fortunately, it was a false alarm, but “Allen showed great leadership qualities in a critical situation,” says Dispatcher Kendrick.

 

Name: Tahjana Hill

Age at the Time of the Incident: 10

County: Fulton County Emergency Services Department

Calltaker: Keesha Nixon

Hurricane Katrina destroyed Tahjana Hill's Mississippi home, and fire almost ruined another. Tahjana's family moved to Georgia to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of Katrina. A little more than a year later, tragedy struck once again. On December 9, 2006, the Hill's home filled with smoke. Demonstrating exceptional calmness and presence of mind, Tahjana immediately dialed 9-1-1. Thanks to her call, the fire was quickly extinguished, and the home suffered minimal damage. Best of all, she and her family escaped the blaze unscathed, surviving yet another disaster.

 

Name: Tabitha Kelly

Age at the Time of the Incident: 11

County: Forsyth County 9-1-1 Center

Calltaker: Stephanie Collins

Not all children can remain calm when their mothers are having a medical emergency, but Tabitha Kelly did just that. Tabitha dialed 9-1-1 on March 22, 2006, when her mother reported feeling drowsy and had difficulty breathing. She calmly and competently answered all Dispatcher Collins' questions and even had a younger sibling go next door for help. “I run calls all the time for sick and hurt children and often have to deal with upset and distraught parents,” says Paramedic Angela Bayne of Rural Metro Ambulance “But on that day I found the opposite: An adult who needed medical help and a very intelligent, calm and mature young lady.”

 

Names: Zachery and Tanner Moore

Ages at the Time of the Incident: 11 and 5, respectively

County: Rockdale Communication/E9-1-1

Calltaker: Darrah Hill

Zachery and Tanner Moore called 9-1-1 on October 8, 2006, after their father collapsed in a severe seizure. Although the children knew their father suffers from epilepsy and diabetes and had been told what to do in a crisis, this was the first time they had to act in an emergency by themselves. Zachery and Tanner realized immediately that they needed help and dialed 9-1-1. They successfully recounted their father's medical history and followed Dispatcher Darrah Hill's instructions. Their actions likely saved their father's life. He was transported to Rockdale Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition until October 11. He was welcomed home two days later.

 

Name: Cody Roy Myrick

Age at the Time of the Incident: 3

County: Jasper County 9-1-1

Calltaker: Betty Jump

Cody Roy Myrick was just 3 years old, but he knew the stranger lying on the side of the road needed help. While playing outside, Cody found a man sweating profusely, unable to catch his breath or speak clearly. Cody ran inside and told his mom to hurry and call 9-1-1 because a man needed help. After making the call, Cody and his mom stayed with the man until first responders arrived. He was transported to the hospital for treatment.

 

Name: Jay'len Quarles

Age at the Time of the Incident: 5

County: Douglas County E9-1-1

Calltaker: Teena Donnell

Jay'len Quarles called 9-1-1 on September 28, 2006, when his mother fell unconscious. But when Dispatcher Teena Donnell asked where he was calling from, Jay'len didn't know his address. Fortunately, emergency workers were able to find his apartment complex with no delay using the county's enhanced 9-1-1 system to plot the GPS coordinates on the cell phone he was calling from. Jay'len answered detailed questions to help Dispatcher Donnell determine his apartment number, and he stayed on the phone until help arrived. Jay'len's ordeal ended on a happy note when he got a personal police escort to class. 

 

Name: Ipo Roig

Age at the Time of the Incident: 9

County: Clayton County Police/9-1-1 Division

Calltaker: Cyndi Hankins

Ipo Roig never dreamed she would have to deliver her baby sister, but that's exactly what happened on October 18, 2006, when her mother went into labor approximately three weeks early. Realizing that the baby was coming, Ipo called 9-1-1. Dispatcher Cyndi Hankins talked her through the entire delivery, and Ipo handed her mother a healthy baby girl. Hankins reports that Ipo never wavered. Instead, she comforted her mother and followed instructions better than most adults. “Her mom was very lucky to have this mature young lady help her through this amazing time,” says Hankins. “Because of her heroic actions, Ipo now has a baby sister to follow in her footsteps.” Hankins concludes, “What an uplifting call!”

 

Name: Matthew Sparr

Age at the Time of the Incident: 9

County: Fayette County 9-1-1

Calltaker: Chris Nations

Matthew Sparr was watching cartoons on January 3, 2006, when his mother suffered a medical emergency. Realizing his mom was in distress, Matthew called 9-1-1. Then he second-guessed his instincts and hung up before the operator could begin questioning him. Surely, his mother would wake up on her own at any moment. Dispatcher Chris Nations immediately called Matthew back and asked what was wrong. This time, Matthew described his mother's symptoms and remained on the line to answer all of Nations' questions. Matthew's call sent paramedics to his house within minutes, where they revived his mother with oxygen. The story may not have had a happy ending if Matthew did not dial 9-1-1.