Smart911 credited with saving local man’s life

Her roommate unconscious, the woman frantically pleaded for help.

No, she didn’t know the man’s medical history, she told 911 dispatcher Dominique Bonvillain. He was working a regular shift Feb. 26 at the Terrebonne Parish Communications District when the call came in.

“Please send help fast,” the woman begged.

What the caller didn’t know was that the man had created a Smart911 Safety Profile and tied it to his mobile phone. The moment his roommate dialed 911, Bonvillain’s computer display flashed his medical history.

“It’s not unusual for us to have to begin a call by calming someone down enough so they can tell us where they are and what their emergency is,” she said. “The fact that this woman called 911 from her roommate’s cell phone, and he had provided us with the information we needed ahead of time could very well have saved his life.”

As Acadian Ambulance rushed to the scene, Bonvillain discovered from his medical profile that the man had diabetes, which she relayed to emergency medical responders. A check of his blood sugar levels indicated they were low. He was quickly treated and transported to the hospital where he made a full recovery.

“In a medical emergency, every second can be the difference between life and death,” Mark Boudreaux, director of the parish’s 911 operation, said. “The fact that the EMS crew knew where to start with their assessment of the patient puts them steps ahead of where they would have been otherwise.

“I commend this citizen for taking the time to sign up for Smart911,” he added. “It had an immense impact on the response we were able to provide him.”

For her efforts, Bonvillain, an 18-year dispatcher, was given Smart911’s SmartSave Award.

“Dominique did exactly what she needed to do, and that was use every tool at her disposal in order to quickly assess the situation and send help to the citizen in need,” her supervisor, Gregory Hood Jr., said. “Smart911 is an invaluable tool in situations such as this, when we are searching for more information to ensure we are providing the best response possible.

“I hope all Terrebonne residents realize the value of this service and sign up for their own Safety Profile,” he said.