Cocoa Police Dispatcher Guides Frantic Father To Fire Station, Saves Choking Child
By Space Coast Daily // May 6, 2016
mere seconds made the difference
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA — A Cocoa police dispatcher helped guide a frantic father to receive quick medical attention for his choking child Thursday evening, a case in which mere seconds made the difference.
At 6:22 p.m. the father called 9-1-1 from his cell phone as he was attempting to drive his daughter to the hospital after she began choking.
The father, who only spoke Spanish, thought it would be faster to drive her to a hospital. Dispatcher Erin Guiterrez, who is bilingual, quickly took the call and got enough information to guide the man to Fire Station 1, which was only a few seconds away from his location.
The father reported his daughter was turning purple and he feared she was dying. He said he needed an ambulance right away but he was driving with her on the 520 heading towards Cape Canaveral Hospital.
Once he arrived at the fire station, paramedics were able to stabilize the child.
“I was glad I was able to help,” Gutierrez said.
“I knew he was closer to the fire station than the hospital. The important thing was getting help to him quickly. I’m glad it all worked out for him and the little girl.”
Gutierrez has been with the Cocoa Police Department for more than 9 years.
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