Paramedics, fire save young life

Dear Editor: Last Thursday evening,we experienced a terrifying event.

Our four-year-old grandson woke his parents up, unable to breathe. He has not been prone to asthmatic attacks, so this was totally out of the ordinary for him. Witnessing this poor child, wide-eyed, struggling with each breath, and saying haltingly “I’m afraid I’m going to die” was heart wrenching and so scary.

After a 911 call, Ellison Fire Department quickly arrived and their calming, gentle, professional approach was reassuring for all of us.

Two ambulance crews arrived shortly afterward, and again, with calm professionalism, quickly assessed the situation, treatment was given to ease his respiratory distress, and he was bundled up and taken to the hospital where emergency staff there said that he had received the treatment required from the paramedics to deal with the medical situation.

All these professionals, from firemen to paramedics, dealt so gently and calmly with our grandson, that he has not been left with traumatic memories of the event. In fact, he would like to ride in an ambulance again — we don’t want that to happen!

A big thank you to the Ellison fire department and to the paramedics from the Gilbert and Pullen families. We can be so thankful for the emergency services we have in our community. Kathy Pullen Kelowna