Sheriff's Dispatcher Awarded for Helping Save Man's Life

Goleta- August 24th, 2009

On Saturday June 27, 2009 the Santa Barbara County Public Safety Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a residence in Orcutt. Dispatch Supervisor Shannon Hoogenbosch answered the call from a woman reporting that “her husband was down” and “clammy.”

In the next few crucial minutes Hoogenbosch used her Emergency Medical Dispatch training to determine that the woman’s 54-year old husband was unconscious and not breathing. Hoogenbosch immediately dispatched Santa Barbara County firefighters and paramedics with American Medical Response before she began giving pre-arrival medical instructions to the caller.

Hoogenbosch’s ability to take control of the situation and coach the caller through life-saving medical procedures bought valuable time until County Fire and AMR arrived. Once at the home, the first responders determined that the husband was in full cardiac arrest. They used a defibrillator to help restart the victim’s heart.

On Monday, there will be a brief ceremony at the County Public Safety Dispatch Center in which Ms. Hoogenbosch will be honored for her role in saving a life. It will also be the first time she meets face to face with the man who is now on the road to recovery.

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please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

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