Seven-year-old Jeremy Wood was presented with a NSW Ambulance Star Award last Friday in recognition of his actions when his father Dean collapsed at his Mudgee home in February this year.
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Jeremy contacted Triple Zero (000) and provided his family’s address and contact details, together with an outline of his father’s condition, enabling the immediate dispatch of an ambulance.
The emergency unfolded at 9.16am on February 1, just as Mr Wood and his son were about to embark on a morning bike ride.
Mr Wood suddenly collapsed from a pre-existing medical condition and hit his head on a bookshelf, leaving him bleeding and semi-conscious.
Jeremy, who was home alone with his father at the time, contacted Triple Zero (000) immediately.
“My dad has fallen on the bookshelf,” Jeremy told the NSW Ambulance Triple Zero (000) call taker.
Despite being understandably upset, Jeremy had a level of calm, providing a background of his father’s medical condition, responding to the call taker’s questions and checking on his father.
All the while, he was reassured by the call taker that an ambulance was on the way.
Paramedics Andrew Johnson and David Mangan attended and treated Mr Wood before transporting him to Mudgee District Hospital for further care.
Mr Wood, who has since recovered from his experience, said he and Jeremy’s mother Joanne were grateful for their son’s actions.
“We’re so proud of him, extremely proud,” he said.
Mr Wood said Jeremy had learned to dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency as a result of drills at home and also at Gulgong Public School, where he is in Year 2.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Daniel Kearney said the Wood family had demonstrated the importance of teaching children the Triple Zero (000) emergency drill.
“NSW Ambulance receives a number of calls each year from children placed in the position of having to manage a medical emergency,” he said.
“Teaching your child when and how to contact Triple Zero (000) while also drilling them on such details as their telephone number and address, is vital.
“Not only did Jeremy’s call lead to the dispatch of an ambulance as soon as possible, it enabled our call taker to support Jeremy and guide him in assisting his father until paramedics arrived.”
Children can learn more by downloading the Triple Zero Kids’ Challenge which is free in either computer or mobile phone app format, visit kids.triplezero.gov.au for further information.
