Trent & Dove Housing's first Call community Alarm Service saves lives

Tuesday 16th August 2011

Local, Burton resident, Molly Smithurst, has praised an emergency alarm service which saved her life after she stopped breathing..

91 year old, Molly described how late one night after she had decided to go to bed, her life almost ended. "As I started to climb the stairs I felt weary and thought to myself, 'I think I should have gone to bed a bit sooner, I'm more tired than I thought.' As I got to the top of the stairs I rested for a moment before continuing into the bedroom. By the time I got there, I felt so tired that I just sat down on the bed and didn't have the energy to take my clothes off."

At some point which Molly cannot remember, she pressed her care alarm button which she always wears on a strap on her wrist. The call was received by Trent & Dove's firstCall Community Alarm Service. Being unable to understand what Molly was saying, the Control Operator, Emma Ashmole despatched the Relief Emergency Responder Grant Anderson. On arrival at the property, Grant discovered Molly to be unresponsive, not breathing and with no sign of a pulse or heartbeat. Over the alarm system, he requested an ambulance and started CPR resuscitation. After a short time, Molly started to breathe again and the ambulance crew arrived.
Molly was taken to Burton's Queen's Hospital, where she remained for a further two weeks for investigation. Her first memory of the incident was when she realised that she was in an ambulance on the way to hospital.

Molly is now back at home, no worse for her ordeal after tests were found to be inconclusive. She said, "I wouldn't dare live on my own without my button, it's well worth every penny."

On a well earned day off Grant called round to see Molly. He said "It's lovely to see you looking so well, I can't believe it." A delighted Molly was thrilled to meet her 'hero' and couldn't wait to have a picture taken with him. Modest Grant commented " I am just pleased that I was in the right place at the right time."

firstCall 24/7 is the community alarm response service operated by Trent & Dove Housing. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year offering a full range of telecare equipment that can give vulnerable people reassurance and independence within their homes.

Posted by 0 for Trent & Dove Housing Ltd.