First published in the April 16 print issue of the Glendale News Press.
A dispatcher with the Verdugo Fire Communications Center in Glendale this week — which is Dispatcher Appreciation Week — helped talk family members through providing vital life-saving measures during an emergency in San Gabriel this week.
Fire communications operator Stephan Pierson was recognized by the communications center and the Glendale Fire Department for his actions, which are believed to have helped save the life of a 76-year-old man who was not breathing and had no pulse after his family called 911 at 7:53 a.m. Wednesday, April 13. After sending a response team from the San Gabriel Fire Department, Pierson was reported to have calmly walked the man’s family members through CPR instructions until paramedics arrived. Properly performed CPR is vital for achieving the best outcomes from cardiac arrests.
“Dispatchers provide first responders situational awareness as they make their way to an incident,” GFD officials said in a press release. “The professional and calm demeanor exhibited by our call takers and radio operators is reassuring not only to the firefighters, but to the citizens on the other end of the phone who may be experiencing the worst day of their lives. They are truly the lifeline that makes a difference, on every call.”
The patient was reported to be recovering at Garfield Medical Center this week.
“The successful cardiac resuscitation is a small snapshot of excellent teamwork by both the firefighter paramedics in the field as well as the dedicated professional dispatch personnel at the Verdugo Fire Communications Center that occurs on a daily basis,” GFD said.
