911 Dispatcher Takes Frantic Call From Desperate Mother, Then Must Decide Whether to Break the Rules

A 911 dispatcher put his job on the line to help a mother save her 17-month-old boy.

Tim Webb of Virginia received a frantic call from Melissa Grable in December when he was forced to break the rules to help a mother save her child who had just had a seizure.

"911 where's your emergency," he asked after answering the phone.

"Oh my God! My baby, my baby! He's not breathing! Oh my God, oh my God!" Grable answered.

Image source: Screen grab via WSLS-TV

"Anybody there that knows CPR?" Webb asked.

"No! No! What do we do?" the mother responded, adding, "This is my only son, I can't lose him!"

[sharequote align="center"]"This is my only son, I can't lose him!"[/sharequote]

The nearest ambulance was approximately 20 minutes away, but since the Galax Police Department did not have an emergency medical dispatch certification, giving CPR instructions over the phone amounted to breaking the rules, WSLS-TV reported.

Chief Rick Clark was nearby when the call came in and was aware of the situation. According to WSLS, the two locked eyes and an unspoken agreement to act was made.

Image source: Screen grab via WSLS-TV

Webb proceeded to give Grable instructions on how to perform CPR. Using them, the mother successfully revived her child.

“It was the scariest day of my life. All I could do was say a prayer, over and over and over, please God don’t take my son from me.” Grable later said.

The family later took a trip to the police department to thank Webb, WSLS reported.

According to WSLS, the Galax Police Department is in the process of getting their EMD certification and should have it by March. In the meantime, dispatchers will continue to provide CPR instructions over the phone during situations where a life may be on the line.

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