Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services presented a Blue Ribbon award to Aliyna S. Collier for her actions in helping to save her 68-year-old grandfather from further complications of a stroke.
On June 6, while visiting and babysitting his granddaughter, Aliyna, William Tucker of Atlanta, suddenly became ill and suffered stroke like symptoms. Four-year-old Aliyna noticed that something was wrong with her grandfather and called her mother, as she had been taught in the case of an emergency. She said to her mother, “Something is wrong with grandpa.”
Her mother immediately called 911 and explained the situation. Upon arrival of Hamilton County EMS to the address, Aliyna greeted and directed HCEMS Paramedics Devoira Johnson and Chuck Walker to her grandfather. While treating and preparing Mr. Tucker for transport, Aliyna took Ms. Johnson to her bedroom to show her the poster that her mother had prepared for her in case of any emergency. The poster contained emergency contact numbers, which Aliyna and her mother had repeatedly gone over.
“This is an example of the importance of early childhood education, to share and teach children what to do in an emergency situation,” said Ken Wilkerson, director of HCEMS. “In this case, a parent’s role in developing an emergency plan and instructing a young child of four years old how to react to a situation that, as the child understood, ‘something was wrong’, helped to save a life.”
According to Mr. Wilkerson, in the case of a stroke, time is of the essence and the quicker the treatment the better the outcome for many of patients. From the instant action of Aliyna to call her mother, HCEMS was able to respond quickly to the emergency, care for and transport Mr. Tucker to a local hospital for treatment. Mr. Tucker was released from the hospital a few days later without debilitating complications.
HCEMS operates a 24-hour advanced life support emergency medical service with 14 ambulances and over 134 employees. For more information on HCEMS, visit www.hamiltontnems.org.