Call 911 First Before You Call Your Family

I just heard about a Realtor that passed away at home on February 17, 2008.  Though I don't have all of the facts, I read that she awoke during the night with a severe asthma attack.  She called her son who then called 911.  By the time EMT's arrived, she was unresponsive and could not be resuscitated.  Our community lost a long-time Realtor that had been a contributor to our profession.  Someone lost a mother, a sister.  It made me wonder if she would have had a better chance if she had called 911 first.  I have heard many instances of seniors calling a family member instead of 911.  I wonder:  Are they afraid to call?  Do they worry that they will "bother" someone?  Do they question their judgment as to whether it is a true emergency?  Are they concerned about a charge for the ambulance ride?  Do they fear they are overreacting to their current illness or situation?

As responsible children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews we need to educate our loved ones on the importance of contacting emergency personnel before calling on us. My assistant, Barbara, asked her parents why they would call loved ones before calling emergency personnel; they stated that they are worried that if they become incapacitated before help arrives that their loved ones wouldn't know where they are or what had happened to them.  They also were concerned that they would be able to give the proper information to those attending to their needs.  Education is essential.

There is a program called "Vial of Life" (http://www.vialoflife.com/). The Alameda County California Fire Department describes it as follows:  "The Vial of Life is designed to speak for you when you can't speak for yourself. The vial contains important medical information that can assist emergency personnel in administering the proper medical treatment."  This information includes a list of current meds, who to call in case of an emergency, DNR, and living will.  I hope that you will take the time to visit the website and educate your loved ones about this important service.