Thank You to the Village of Hawkins First Responders

[BigSteph]

On Labor Day morning, my mother attempted to take my father to urgent/emergency care, as his oxygen was getting low. He collapsed on the driveway.

The members of the Hawkins Emergency Response Team arrived shortly after the first call to 911 occurred.

I was out of town and my mother was alone with my father.

She said that people from all over arrived and immediately offered assistance -- some on the team and others just supportive neighbors.

She said that her neighbors did everything they could to revive my father. They remained until after the paramedics left.

One of the members, who is a neighbor, whom my mother had not met, drove her to the hospital.

This was traumatic for my mother and each person helped in their own way -- lessening the stress on my mother.

My father passed away, as neither the Hawkins Team, paramedics, or emergency room could revive him.

Thank you for being there, even though he didn't make it.

If you haven't volunteered or offered assistance in some way to your Village Emergency Responder Team, I urge you to reconsider.

Thanks,

Big Steph

Son of Charles E. Harris, Jr. (1940-2023).

[LuvNH]

This is a heads up to anyone who either is a caregiver or who lives with someone who needs care. When the EMTs get to your house they need to know where to take the person, name, age, doctor and diagnosis. Get this information written on cards to hand to the person running the ENT group.

I went through something very similar, husband collapsed in bedroom, it was a life or death situation. I just handed the lead EMT his information on a card and they were gone. My husband survived. If the Emergency Dept has the information about the patient it saves hours of diagnosis.

Also, trying to read the numbers on houses in the middle of the night is very difficult for the ambulance. I went out in the street with a flash light and waved it around for them to see. I must have looked like a fool, but it was the middle of the night and no one mentioned it so I guess nobody saw me out there!

[Carla B]

Big Steph, please accept my condolences for your loss and pass them on to your mother.

[sarp1967]

So very sorry for your loss.

[villagetinker]

Big Steph, sorry for your loss.

[cjrjck]

God bless your family. Many thanks to those who respond to difficult situations.

[deborahcme]

So sorry for your loss, Big Steph. Thank you for sharing this information with us and for the shout out to community responders.

[bowlingal]

The Vial of Life ( offered in Sumter County ) given out free at the police stations, is extremely important to have. Basically, it is like a pill bottle that you keep in the fridge ( in case of fire), in it is paperwork that lists all pertinent information ( medications, emergency contact, dr name, etc) to be given to responders in case of emergency. It's a MUST have, especially if you live alone.

[nancyre]

One of the team will will be entering information the others will be treating or stabilizing. Have copies of drug list available I have never been asked for the Drs name. Conditions they live with. Immediate Actions, timing etc. T

[Nana2Teddy]

My deepest condolences for the loss of your father.

[Lea N]

On Labor Day morning, my mother attempted to take my father to urgent/emergency care, as his oxygen was getting low. He collapsed on the driveway.

The members of the Hawkins Emergency Response Team arrived shortly after the first call to 911 occurred.

I was out of town and my mother was alone with my father.

She said that people from all over arrived and immediately offered assistance -- some on the team and others just supportive neighbors.

She said that her neighbors did everything they could to revive my father. They remained until after the paramedics left.

One of the members, who is a neighbor, whom my mother had not met, drove her to the hospital.

This was traumatic for my mother and each person helped in their own way -- lessening the stress on my mother.

My father passed away, as neither the Hawkins Team, paramedics, or emergency room could revive him.

Thank you for being there, even though he didn't make it.

If you haven't volunteered or offered assistance in some way to your Village Emergency Responder Team, I urge you to reconsider.

Thanks,

Big Steph

Son of Charles E. Harris, Jr. (1940-2023).

I am sorry for the loss of your father, please accept my condolences.

What a blessing your neighbors were to your mom at a time where she most certainly needed support. The neighbor who took your mom to the hospital could have possibly saved your mom's live, or the lives of others.

My husband had a stroke almost 5 years ago, and survived against the odds. He was air lifted from The Villages Hospital to Shands, where he stayed for 3 1/2 months. I stayed there every day, and night too. When he was first flown to Shands I drove in my car to Shands. I should never have been driving in that state. But at the time it never dawned on me not to. I almost hit a car in front of me who was stopped at a red light.

[LuvNH]

One of the team will will be entering information the others will be treating or stabilizing. Have copies of drug list available I have never been asked for the Drs name. Conditions they live with. Immediate Actions, timing etc. T

My husband has a rare blood anemia, if they know this they can start getting blood while working on him. Different cases need different treatments. Also my husband needs a hematologist, a specialist when his blood gets too low, that is why the doctor is named.

[JudyLife]

So sorry for your loss but heartened to hear of the support your Mom had.

[Pairadocs]

This is a heads up to anyone who either is a caregiver or who lives with someone who needs care. When the EMTs get to your house they need to know where to take the person, name, age, doctor and diagnosis. Get this information written on cards to hand to the person running the ENT group.

I went through something very similar, husband collapsed in bedroom, it was a life or death situation. I just handed the lead EMT his information on a card and they were gone. My husband survived. If the Emergency Dept has the information about the patient it saves hours of diagnosis.

Also, trying to read the numbers on houses in the middle of the night is very difficult for the ambulance. I went out in the street with a flash light and waved it around for them to see. I must have looked like a fool, but it was the middle of the night and no one mentioned it so I guess nobody saw me out there!

Super tip if only 10% of the people who read it will actually do it, you've saved many people !

[AZ SLIM]

On Labor Day morning, my mother attempted to take my father to urgent/emergency care, as his oxygen was getting low. He collapsed on the driveway.

The members of the Hawkins Emergency Response Team arrived shortly after the first call to 911 occurred.

I was out of town and my mother was alone with my father.

She said that people from all over arrived and immediately offered assistance -- some on the team and others just supportive neighbors.

She said that her neighbors did everything they could to revive my father. They remained until after the paramedics left.

One of the members, who is a neighbor, whom my mother had not met, drove her to the hospital.

This was traumatic for my mother and each person helped in their own way -- lessening the stress on my mother.

My father passed away, as neither the Hawkins Team, paramedics, or emergency room could revive him.

Thank you for being there, even though he didn't make it.

If you haven't volunteered or offered assistance in some way to your Village Emergency Responder Team, I urge you to reconsider.

Thanks,

Big Steph

Son of Charles E. Harris, Jr. (1940-2023).

You mentioned the "Hawkins Emergency Response Team". I have not heard of these. Where is there information on such teams?

[JMintzer]

You mentioned the "Hawkins Emergency Response Team". I have not heard of these. Where is there information on such teams?

Many Villages have set up their own teams to use their own "AEDs" located throughout their village... They are the "first responders" even before the EMTs get there...