Local girl recognized for helping paramedics in emergency

When seven-year-old Emma Melgarejo’s little brother started choking on a toy last April she knew just what she had to do to help him.
“Emma was very calm, cool and collected,” said Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services Public Information Officer Adam Loria, “she immediately called her mother who was… not at home.”
“Her mother was also very calm cool and collected, called 911 for EMS right away,” he said.
Emma was recognized for her actions at the start of the City Council meeting Aug. 15 with the Youth EMS Citizen Recognition Award and a certificate of recognition from the city.
“I feel really great,” said Emma of receiving the certificates.
On April 15, 2016, Emma and her little brother Axel Melgarejo, who was 19-months at the time, were being watched by their nanny, who doesn’t speak English.
When Axel started to choke on a toy the nanny told Emma to call her mom, Jessica Melgarejo.
“I was a little bit scared but I knew I could trust the people who were coming,” said Emma.
Because of how many people were involved in the communication chain, starting with Emma then her mom and 911 dispatch before getting to the ambulance crew, the details were a little confusing said Paramedic David Dubbin who responded to the call.
“We get ongoing notes as we’re responding,” he said, “So they were a little confusing.”
What they did know was that it was a pediatric patient and a choking call, two of the most psychologically stressful calls for first responders.
“None of us like going to pediatric calls particularly ones that have the opportunity to be life impacting,” said Dubbin.
“No kid deserves to be sick,” Dubbin said.
When the ambulance and fire crews arrived, they were met at the door by the nanny who immediately handed Axel to Dubbin’s partner.
“It was pretty obvious immediately once we got there what was going on so we just immediately undertook what we needed to do to resolve the issue,” said Dubbin.
They quickly removed the toy from Axel’s airway. Once the immediate danger was addressed, they turned to Emma since her nanny couldn’t speak English, to get the history of the events leading up to Axel choking.
From his dispatch notes, Dubbin knew that Emma had called her mom to initiate the 911 call.
“I said ok, can we call mom again and she said ‘sure’,” said Dubbin.
Emma then went upstairs and got her back pack.
“As she’s coming down the stairs I said, No Emma we need mom’s phone number,” said Dubbin, “and she said in a very precocious matter of fact voice ‘I have my emergency contact information in my back pack my mom has told me to keep it there so that’s where mom’s phone number is’,”
“So I was schooled at that point in time…I understand Emma you’re in control,” laughed Dubbin.
It was Emma’s calmness and control through the whole incident and this interaction in particular that led to Dubbin nominating her for the award.
In his 20-year career in EMS, this was the first time Dubbin has ever nominated someone for an EMS Citizen Award.
He and his partner then took Axel to the hospital to be checked by a doctor, leaving Emma at home with the fire crew and her nanny.
When the emergency was over, the firefighters switched their attention to comforting Emma and making sure she knew what was going on when her brother left for the hospital.
Emma was completely at ease with the crew, talking away and knew what was going on.
“She’s just light years beyond her age, she is very, very mature and was very composed,” said Chestermere Fires Services Capt. Brent Paquette.
“In my just over 20 years with the Chestermere Fire Service I’ve never had a sibling on a call like that, that was that calm,” he said.
“Her parents have done a fantastic job raising her,” said Paquette.

In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to Canada's local news from their platforms, Anchor Media Inc encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this site and downloading the Rogue Radio App. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to info@anchormedia.ca.

About the author

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to local news from their platforms, Anchor Media Inc encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this site and downloading the Rogue Radio App. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to info@anchormedia.ca


What's Playing on CFTR

Launch Player in New Window 


What's Playing on CFTR

Launch Player in New Window