May 1, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

To: Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer

Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Communications Officers Directs CPR on Phone for Father

Shreveport Fire Communications Officer Dion Mims has been working in the Caddo Parish 911 Center for almost two years. Like all fire communications officers, Mims received training and is certified in Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), which empowers communications officers to relay important information and instruction to callers with medical emergencies. Given before firefighters and paramedics arrive on the scene, these instructions can often mean the difference in life and death. This morning, Officer Mims was forced to call upon that training and more, as she gave CPR instructions over the phone to her mother for her father, who had apparently suffered a heart attack.

Communications Officer Kim Cooper received the initial 911 call from 2923 Curtis Lane at 6:41 a.m. Delores Joshua was reporting that her husband, Frank, 55, was unconscious and not breathing. Cooper immediately began delivering CPR instructions. Mims, recognizing the address on her computer screen but unable to hear the conversation, turned onto the call channel from her post in the communications center. Mims, according to supervisors, calmly and professionally took over the call and continued CPR instructions to her mother until firefighters and paramedics arrived. Mims then left to meet the family at Willis Knighton Medical Center on Greenwood Road, where Frank was transported.

Despite the efforts of Fire Communications Officers Cooper and Mims, and the fire crew of station #14, Frank Joshua failed to respond to any of the treatments and did not survive. Mims actions have been commended by Fire Chief Cochran for her efforts under extreme duress.

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