A Yarmouth County man says a fire dispatcher in Yarmouth likely saved a family member’s life.
Jason Foster says his father-in-law recently suffered a respiratory emergency and Foster called 911 from the residence in Wedgeport.
He tells CJLS News as soon as he contacted the 911 centre, he was put on hold with a recorded message advising him to please wait for the next available call-taker.
“I couldn’t believe it. I called Yarmouth dispatch, I told them I needed a page-out for a medical call. It was paged out right away. I was still on-hold with 911 for approximately seven minutes.”
Foster, also a volunteer fire fighter in Wedgeport, was on a land-line with 911 and called Yarmouth dispatch on his cell phone.
He says firefighters, trained as medical first responders, administered oxygen, then paramedics arrived.
The man recovered.
He says he doesn’t fault the paramedics, but says it’s a prime example of how important local dispatch service is.
Foster says they likely saved his father-in law’s life.
