ARLINGTON — Armstrong Ambulance Service and CEO Richard Raymond wish to recognize one of their Emergency Medical Dispatchers, whose calm and poise recently helped to save a woman’s life.
On Dec. 2, at about 6 p.m., Armstrong’s business line received a call from a woman asking questions about a medication and its effects. Dispatcher Eliza Koso determined that the woman, based on her comments and speech patterns, may have overdosed.
Using her training and expertise, Koso engaged the woman in conversation, asking about her work and family life. That didn’t work initially, so Koso brought up other topics, then returned to personal questions.
“I was focusing most on keeping the caller on the line and awake. I was trying to figure out how we could find her, aiming to gather clues,” Koso said.
Using the information she could gather, Koso and her colleagues were able to coordinate with Medford first responders to locate the woman’s family. Then Koso asked the woman text to her husband with the name of the hotel where she was staying.
Based on those clues, Medford first responders located the woman and transported her to an area hospital for treatment.
“I was very happy about the outcome,” Koso said. “I hope that everything ended up okay and that the caller is getting the help she needs.”
Koso has worked at Armstrong for 16 months. She started as an Emergency Medical Technician, but has been working in the Communications Center due to an injury. She would like to become a pediatric trauma nurse in the future.
“All of our Emergency Medical Dispatchers are highly trained. When Eliza faced a new situation, she relied on her instincts to get the information she needed when every second mattered,” Raymond said. “We’re incredibly proud of her.”
Koso wishes to acknowledge her co-worker that evening, Jimmy Maggiano for his valuable guidance and assistance during that call. Dispatcher Maggiano assisted with communications and maintained contact with the Medford Police Department as well as managed other calls which simultaneously came into the dispatch center.