Update on Incident at Dale County High School

Matt Boster

Viewed: 5930

Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Aug 13 2019 2:26 PM

PRESS RELEASE

On August 6, 2019 the Ozark-Dale County E911 Center received a 911 call from a coach at Dale County High School in reference to a football player who was experiencing an unknown medical event while at football practice. Due to some misinformation that is being circulated in regards to this incident we would like to release the timeline of events as noted by our CAD (computer aided dispatch) in hopes to provide some clarity.

The Ozark-Dale County E911 Center manages 911 calls for every municipality in Dale County with the exception of Daleville. When a 911 call is received dispatchers route the call to the appropriate agency for dispatch of emergency personnel. In this particular case a 911 call was received by the Ozark-Dale County E911 Center at 0714hrs form Head Coach Don Moore at Dale County High School. Coach Moore explained that he had a player that was experiencing some type of medical emergency and was in respiratory distress.

The E911 dispatcher confirmed his location and routed the call, via a joint 911 transfer, to the Midland City Police Department for dispatch of Midland City Rescue.  Midland City Police dispatcher advised the caller that they would have emergency personnel en route and the call was terminated by Midland City Police Dispatch.

At 0716hrs the Ozark-Dale County E911 Center received another 911 call from Coach Moore and he stated that the patient was not breathing and CPR was in progress. At that time multiple dispatchers contacted Pilcher’s Ambulance Service and Midland City Police Dispatch simultaneously to attempt to get emergency personnel to the scene. At that time Pilcher’s Ambulance was unavailable and when the call was placed to Midland City Police Dispatch it was directed to the answering machine.

At 0717hrs an alternate number for Midland City Police Dispatch was called and the dispatcher stated that they did not have Midland City ambulance responding. Due to the severity of the call Ozark-Dale County E911 dispatchers dispatched Ozark EMS to the scene at 0717hrs.  Midland City also requested that the Dale County Sheriff’s Office respond as well due to their officer being on a vehicle vs pedestrian call. At 0718hrs the DCSO Deputy arrived on scene and began assisting with CPR and AED.

At 0720hrs Ozark-Dale County E911 calls Midland City back and request if they have a 1^st responder enroute or anyone responding. Midland City advised that they have a 1^st responder on scene assisting with CPR and AED. At 0725hrs Midland City calls Ozark-Dale County E911 and advised that their 1^st responder on scene stated that if the ambulance did not arrive soon to dispatch “Survival Flight.” At 0731 Ozark EMS arrives on scene and patient care was turned over.

First and foremost we are pleased to learn of the positive and continual improving condition of the patient in this case. Our prayers are that he continues to improve and will be re-united with his classmates soon.  Finally our dispatchers manage hundreds of calls daily and the safety of the officers, firefighters and citizens we serve along with the efficiency in which we conduct operations is our top priority. We hope this provides some sort of clarity to this incident and we are looking forward to moving ahead.  

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