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5-Year-Old Hero Calls 911, Saves Mom
Filed under: In The News, Amazing Kids, Health & Safety: Big Kids
Five-year-old Tahlique Garay called 911 when his mom collapsed. Credit: Todd Maisel, New York Daily News
When his pregnant mother collapsed onto the floor, the rising first grader stayed calm and called 911 -- what he had been taught to do if Jennifer Garay ever got sick.
"My mom was on the floor so I called 911," Garay told the New York Daily News. "I wanted to help her."
According to the newspaper, Garay told the emergency operator that his "mommy, um, passed out a little bit." He told the operator his age, gave his , Queens address and even remembered important medical information, "My mommy gets seizures."
Garay first taught her son about 911 after a seizure. "I didn't want to scare him but I had to tell him what to do if I got sick," she told the NYDN, saying that her son "did everything right."
Tahlique was sworn in as a "Junior Paramedic" by Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta at a ceremony at FDNY Headquarters Wednesday.
Having an emergency plan is key in situations like this. The Department of Homeland Security stresses the importance of sitting down and with your children and creating a family emergency plan in the event of a disaster. 911 For Kids also has helpful tips for teaching your children about 911 and when to use it.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 6)
8-13-2009 @ 11:35PM
lee said...I think the numeber 911 should be a red color so kids know which colors to press. Some kids may know the code 911, but may not know what the nine looks like, etc. If it's such an important numeber, and it is, than why not give it the bright color it deserves. Good job, cute boy. He saved two lives.
Reply
8-14-2009 @ 1:02AM
Sandra said...Highlighting the numbers would not help children that do not recognize the numbers because they still would not know how to dial them in the correct sequence. A highlighted one touch button (where you press the one button for a connection to 911) is ideal. Years ago I had a phone with a button like that.
8-16-2009 @ 8:59PM
maureensigg said...Lee... You should probably copyright your idea before you post it on here... JUST AN IDEA!
8-16-2009 @ 10:10PM
Zazu Pitts said...I'm relieved that the woman is all right. Just don't let her name her second child. Maybe she can hire someone to do it.
8-16-2009 @ 10:21PM
mkenstup said...Fabulous. A child remembering what a parent taught them and was able to execute in a crisis. God bless the parent and the child.
8-16-2009 @ 10:42PM
Bob said...And should a hand reach out to move their fingers to 911 instead of 119 or 191? Teach the kid.
8-17-2009 @ 12:47AM
queenchris3252 said...5 year olds are intelligent. This young boy's mother is also. She taught him what to do and why. I hope the FDNY had such a positive impact on him that well see this intelligent boy grow into a brilliant man and save thousands of lives. To the person who made the comment about the boy's name, SHAME ON YOU. You have no room to talk. What she names her children is none of your business. Be proud of that woman for being an outstanding mother.
8-17-2009 @ 2:10AM
F said...I've never had to dial 911, Can't we just put that on speed dial. Just put some red nail polish on the right numbers. No need to go through a whole rigamarole. It all depends on the age of the child anyway. Also it might help if you get one of those "I've fallen and I can't get up" pendants. if you are prone to seizures like that mom. A young child can just press that button and get help. Anyway...what a great mom and child. Sounds like they have a great relationship where she can explain an emergency situation in such a way that the child does not get nervous and can calmly call for help. Nice family.
8-17-2009 @ 2:35AM
anonymous82967 said...They chose 911 because it was a random number. They dont want people accidentallly calling. They dont want children to be playing on the phone and dial it. That wastes the operaters time which could have a negative impact on others that need help.
8-17-2009 @ 3:07AM
Simzee said...This lady is lucky....My kids would leave me to die.
8-17-2009 @ 11:56AM
Jill said...When my kids were very little I took finger nail polish and put pink on the #9 and blue on #1. Then I posted a little card with three squares right at their height next to the phone and painted the squares with finger nail polish, pink, blue, blue. I taught them to use that in case of emergency. There was one time my 6 year old appropriatly used it to call 911 when I was unable to.
8-17-2009 @ 12:21PM
stonerboy said...then ya teach them the code...making it a color assumes that EVERYONE/CHILD will be able to see that color, what bout the folks who are colorblind...Leave it alone kids are fine with learning
8-13-2009 @ 11:43PM
lee said...Anyone who thinks it's a good idea to color the 911, let me know so we can sell phones with the numbers highlighted. Let AOL know you want to be investor and help save life, and to contact me via-email. Great idea, and can't cost that much and can be sold in any store, or even Internet. Maybe we can give halp or more to charities and save even more lives. 9/13/09 LN. Have so many other ideas, just not enough time as I study to also help flourish lives. Thanks
Reply
8-16-2009 @ 9:00PM
JTFEE said...In the old days with operators, dialing zero "0" would have accomplished the purpose, although I'll admit that the old operators did not have the training of today's emergency center operatives.
8-13-2009 @ 11:46PM
Lee said...OOPS. It's not AOL, it's parent dish, sorry.
Reply
8-13-2009 @ 11:56PM
Lola said...Maybe parentdish and Lee can get together and sell these phones together. Great idea, and according to the above numbers many pareents don't fell their child could do the same, and with children being visual, kinesthetic learners before the read/ write this would make it easier for kids to learn, even the elderly and some with special needs would benefit. parent dish could easely advertize the product and maybe a phone company can get in also. Excellent idea. Who wouldn't buy their next phone with highlighted numbers? And for the blind the numbers could have a rough edge to them. Sounds good.
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8-14-2009 @ 2:20AM
lee said...Brad Pitt, since you are all about helping people, how about investing with me on selling phones with the numbers 911 highlighted so kids know what to dial in case on an emergency. Kids are visual and kinesthetic learners before the read/write can occur, and this would help save lives. Not only it would assist kids, but also the elderly, people with dementia, and for the blind we could have the numbers with rough edges. Every minute counts since the police are the first to be called, than they determine the emergency which goes to paramedics and as I said, every minute counts. We can use more than half of the sales to give to charity or use the money to rebuild New Orleans. How hard can this be? It’s my idea, you’re the face, and the money will be well spent, not to mention the lives it saves. Just today, a little boy saved his pregnant mother who had a seizure and according to most parents they don’t feel all that secure that their child would remember while in an emergency. It doesn’t have to be just Brad. Hope he is interested and they could be the face since they could advertize out product and decide if they want to keep their share. I just know I would like to share mine, since material things aren’t all that important to me. I mentioned Brad because he cares and the money could be used to help elect him to office, and build New Orleans, making it the greatest place to live, work and play. If not I hope a major company is interested and I’ll still do as I said and help elect him, if he wants, and use the funds for assist the City. It’s never been done and we could market a special phone to be designed in such as great way. He has an architect mind and could even design it himself. I don’t give out private info. Over the net, but don’t think the website would mind contacting me if any investor likes the idea as much as I do. Brad just has first pick.
Reply
8-15-2009 @ 10:28AM
tamileann6180 said...There are a lot of flaws in your idea. Okay, so the 9 and the 1 are highlighted. .Now.. what??? You still need to teach the child to push the 9 first then the 1 twice. By teaching them that. Whats the use in highlighting. If your child is at the age to figure that part out, they probably don't need them highlighted. I have 2 sons, so yes, I have children. It just seems it really wouldn't help. If the child knows enough to dial 911, the highlighting will not help or hinder.
8-17-2009 @ 10:55AM
chelsey said...Lee, your idea is wonderful! However, I do agree with Bob. Even if the numbers are highlighted, some kids may think that they can be in any kind of sequence because all three numbers are colored. If there's a way to ensure that kids know the sequence of the Emergency number, your idea can work!!!
8-17-2009 @ 6:22PM
xyz said...OMG, how did Brad Pitt got into this?? with all due respect, leave him out of this.
Geeeeez.. like he's reading your comments..