At a point where news is unusually ‘dire’, INEM medical emergency authority has brought the heartening story of a little boy who called them, in panic, after his mother collapsed behind the wheel of the family car.
Rodrigo, aged nine, was suddenly ‘in charge’: with his mother unconscious, he had six-year-old twin brothers asleep in the car with him, and knew he needed help.
His 112 call was answered by INEM operative ‘João’: their conversation can be heard here (and it is a tear-jerker). João knew exactly how to calm Rodrigo down. He got all the information of where the car was, what model it was. He managed to pass the information to the necessary units while he was talking with Rodrigo, keeping him calm and gleaning all the details that he needed.
João even managed to get the boy to rouse his mother (who Rodrigo previously informed “has a pacemaker”) and ask her “what hurts? Where?”
The mother’s mumbled replies can be heard on the video clip. Her heart was hurting. Her left arm was heavy/ immobile.
All this was vital information for the INEM team as it raced to get to the Ford Focus that João had managed to discover was parked near a bus stop, close to Café Taco, in Malpico de Tejo (Castelo Branco).
It is hard to choose who truly is the hero of this story: João’s calm and expertise is almost more humbling than Rodrigo’s sweet responses.
João manages to get Rodrigo to switch on the hazard lights of the car so that the INEM team dispatched would find it quickly.
Then one of the sleeping twins wakes up. João advises Rodrigo to keep him calm. “Be calm”, says the elder brother dutifully. “Big brother will sort everything out”
Then – breakthrough – “I can hear the ti-no-ni!” the little boy tells João (meaning the siren of the INEM emergency response vehicle).
“They’re here!”
João continues just as before: “Calm down, Rodrigo. Don’t put yourself in danger. Don’t go into the road…” There is just a tiny catch in his voice when João understands his work is done: “Rodrigo, thank you very much for your help. You have been amazing. A hug to you. Goodbye”.
Considering all the criticisms of INEM – the stories of ambulances taking too long to reach people; of disgruntled employees – this incident gives another view of an institution designed to come to the rescue of people in their worst moments.
Rodrigo’s mother received the healthcare she needed. She was helped not only by INEM but by firefighters of Castelo Branco – and both teams returned some time later to Rodrigo’s school to explain to the children there not only how exceptionally ‘brave’ and ‘heroic’ their classmate had been, but how important it is to keep a cool head when calling for help for someone in a medical emergency.
As João explains: “Rodrigo was a hero. He was able to describe where he was; gave points of reference/ the health problems of his mother; we were able to share the information with the medical assistance (vehicle) and firefighters in real-time. This made all the difference”.
At a point where little that we read is particularly uplifting, this is a story to celebrate, and help us realise that even in the worst moments, there are people able to help at the other end of the telephone.
The end of the Youtube clip shows Rodrigo being taken out ‘on a ride’ with INEM. Who knows, he may end up becoming a first responder one day himself.
His story is being widely shared today as it is European 112 Day, and Rodrigo has been chosen as “a example of citizenship, courage and responsibility”.
“Obrigado, Rodrigo ”
Source: INEM/ Facebook
