Police are crediting a four-year-old boy in central Iowa with saving his mother’s life Thursday.
Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports: Danielson :64
It started when the child called 9-1-1 to report the problem. A Polk County dispatcher answered the call and the boy said “My mommy doesn’t feel good.” Things got a little interesting as the dispatcher tried to find out more information.
“Where is your mommy?,” the dispatcher asked, and the boy replied “She’s in Iowa, do you know where Iowas is?” The child was unsure about the name of his town and their address. He also had trouble remembering his mother’s name, but was able to tell the dispatcher his name. In the meantime his mother’s condition appeared to get worse.
The boy was heard to say “Mommy” and then told the dispatcher his mother had just passed out. The dispatcher kept encouraging the boy as she worked to find out where he was. The boy told the dispatcher there was nobody there to take care of his mom and she told him they are sending help and he was doing a good job. The dispatcher continued trying to get information from the boy.
He asked the boy if his mom was unable to talk and he said “Yeah.” She also asked how long his mom had been sick and he said “50 days.” The dispatcher was able to get enough information to send an ambulance to an area in Urbandale where they thought the boy lived, and he was able to flag down firefighters.
The mother was treated and is now back home and doing well. Police have asked that the name of the boy and his mother be withheld due to a domestic situation. Police say this is a good example of why it is important to teach all young children how to call 9-1-1 and that they know their address and the names of family members.
You can listen to more of the 9-1-1 call here: Urbandale 9-1-1 12:00