CALL TO AMBULANCE 1 TRANSCRIPT
Comms Centre call taker: Ambulance, what’s the exact address of the emergency?
Caller: My husband, he’s collapsed.
Call taker: What’s your address, ma’am?
Caller: [Address and confirmation of address by call taker deleted for privacy]
Call taker: And the phone number you’re calling from?
Call taker: [Phone number and confirmation by call taker deleted for privacy]
Caller: That’s right.
Call taker: Okay. So how old is your husband?
Caller: My husband is 51.
Call taker: 51, and he’s collapsed, has he?
Caller: Yes, he’s collapsed and he’s gone unconscious.
Call taker: Okay. Just stay on the line ma’am.
Caller: Okay, thank you. What can I do?
Call taker: No, just stay on the line ma’am. We’re just going to type a note. We’ve got some more questions, one moment.
Caller: Okay.
Call taker: Are you with him now?
Caller: Yes, I am. I’m clearing his airway and I’ve got him in, um…
Call taker: You’ve put him on his side?
Caller: Yes, I have him in the recovery position.
Call taker: Okay. That’s great, ma’am.
Caller: His face is going very red.
Call taker: Okay. I just want to confirm, so he is unconscious?
Caller: Yes, he is.
Call taker: Is he breathing?
Caller: Yes, he is.
Call taker: Okay.
Caller: No, he’s not.
Call taker: He’s not breathing?
Caller: Yeah.
Call taker: Okay, we need to do CPR here, ma’am. Just stay on the line.
Caller: I can do that, I’m going to put you on speaker phone, just a mo.
Call taker: Okay. Okay, are you there, ma’am?
Caller: Yes, I am.
Call taker: Did he choke on anything first?
Caller: No.
Call taker: Okay, just one …
Caller: He’s breathing, I think.
Call taker: You think he’s breathing?
Caller: Yeah, he’s breathing. I’ve just cleared his airways.
Call taker: Okay, if he’s now breathing, roll him back into the recovery position.
Caller: No, he isn’t, it was just an exhalation. Sorry.
Call taker: So, he is not breathing?
Caller: I’m trying to get him …
Call taker: Okay, you need to roll him onto his back.
Caller: I’ve got him on his back. I’ve got him in recovery – I’ve done this before. Right.
Call taker: Okay, so you’re kneeling right beside him now?
Caller: Yeah, I’ve got...
Call taker: Okay, lie him flat on his back on the floor and remove any pillows.
Caller: Yeah.
Call taker: Okay, kneel to him and look in his mouth for any food or vomit.
Caller: I have.
Call taker: Okay, is there anything in the mouth?
Caller: Nothing in the mouth. I’ve cleared the mouth.
Call taker: Okay. Now place your one hand on the forehead and your other hand under the neck and tilt the head back.
Caller: Yeah, I’ve got it. I’ve got that.
Call taker: Okay.
Caller: Then do the five puffs, okay?
Call taker: Now you do, okay ma’am, you do two deep breaths.
Caller: Yeah.
Call taker: Okay, so do two deep breaths like you’re blowing up a big balloon.
Caller: Yeah.
Call taker: Okay, is the air going in? Is the chest rising? … Is the chest rising, ma’am?
Caller: I’ve got to unzip something so I can see what he’s … what’s happening. [To husband: Ready, ready, love?]
Call taker: Okay, was the chest rising when you did those breaths?
Caller: No, I’m trying again.
Call taker: Make sure you’ve got the head tilted back.
Caller: Yeah, head’s tilted back - it’s okay, I’m doing it.
Call taker: Okay, now do 30 compressions – so you put one heel on your hand on the breast bone in the centre of the chest, right between the nipples, and do 30 compressions. … Okay, we need to do 30 compressions twice a second.
Caller: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 … 17, 18, 9, 10, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30.
Caller: Yes.
Call taker: Okay, now two more breaths and just keep on doing the compressions – you are doing a good job. The ambulance is on its way. I will stay on the line with you.
Caller: Thank you. … He seems to be breathing.
Call taker: Is he breathing now?
Caller: He’s breathing.
Call taker: Is he breathing regularly?
Caller: Yeah.
Call taker: So, he’s now breathing?
Caller: Yeah, he’s now breathing; I’m getting him into recovery.
Call taker: That’s good ma’am. … And just watch his breathing; just tell me if he stops again.
Caller: He’s sto--, oh no, there he goes; he’s now taking like gulping breaths.
Call taker: Gulping breaths?
Caller: Yeah. He’s stopped – oh no, he sort of does the gulping breath and then he stops.
Call taker: Okay how many breaths is he doing?
Caller: I’ll tell you when it’s happening. Now, he’s doing a gulping breath. He’s stopped. …
Call taker: Okay, I think we need to continue doing CPR, ma’am. If he’s only …
Caller: He’s gulping breath again. Do I have to keep … to go back to CPR?
Call taker: How many … so he’s only doing a couple of breaths, is he?
Caller: Yeah. Listen, just listen for a minute. He’s doing nothing. He’s breathing in, big gulp, out, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. Do I need – I need to do CPR?
Call taker: Yeah continue doing CPR, ma’am. You were doing a great job before, just do exactly like you were doing before.
Caller: Okay. Right. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 … 9, 10, 11 … 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 … 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 … 8, 9, 10, … 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Right now.
Call taker: Do two more breaths.
Caller: He’s actually starting to do that funny breathing again. His lips are blue.
Call taker: Lips are blue.
Caller: But he’s breathing a bit steadier now. … I’m just going to open the door in case the ambulance …
Call taker: Okay, open the door. …
Caller: Right.
Call taker: Ok, how’s he doing now?
Caller: He’s not.
Call taker: He’s not. Okay, let’s go back to CPR, ma’am.
Caller: 1, 2, 3 … … 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 … 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Call taker: Okay, two breaths.
Caller: Two breaths.
Call taker: Now, 30 more compressions.
Caller: Sorry, okay.
Caller: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 … 14, 15 … 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Call taker: 30 more compressions.
Call taker: Two more breaths - you’re doing a good job, ma’am.
Caller: It’s like he’s sleeping.
Call taker: Just keep on doing that, ma’am. You’re doing a good job.
Caller: But he’s breathing against me.
Call taker: Okay, so what’s he doing now?
Caller: He’s sort of breathing a bit better.
Call taker: Okay so, how often is he breathing? Is it …
Caller: No, it’s like he’s now … he’s breathing out like he’s snoring … and nothing. Okay.
Call taker: Keep on doing that, ma’am. The ambulance is only a few more streets away.
Caller: Okay, another 30?
Call taker: Another 30, yeah.
Caller: 1, 2 … … … 12, 13, 14 … 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. I think they’re here.
Caller: I think they’re here.
Call taker: No, there’re nearly there. Keep on going, ma’am. You can keep on doing that until they get into the door. Make sure you do two big breaths and then 30 more compressions.
Caller: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Call taker: Two more breaths, ma’am. You’re doing a good job.
Caller: Thank you.
Call taker: That’s it. Back to the compressions, 30 compressions.
Caller: 1, 2 … 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 … 11, 12, 13 … 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 … 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30.
Call taker: Two breaths, you’re doing a good job, ma’am. The ambulance is just about to pull up, just keep on going until they come in.
Caller: Right. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 … 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 … 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Right.
Caller: Right
Caller: Right. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 …
Call taker: Now it will be very tiring for you, ma’am, but you are doing a great job.
Caller: 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Call taker: Okay the ambulance is outside, so they are coming in. You keep on doing what you’re doing.
Call taker: Okay, you are doing a good job, ma’am. How is ,,, is he doing any more breaths?
Caller: No – yes he is a bit and his colour’s better.
Call taker: Okay, you are doing a good job, keep on going. The ambulance crew is right outside, they will be in there in a few seconds.
Caller: … 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 … they’re here … 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 …
Call taker: You’ve done a good job, ma’am.
[Ambulance crew arrive and take over the care of the patient, providing care with a defibrillator – which essentially ‘restarts’ the heart – then take the patient to hospital by ambulance for ongoing care].
[End]
