The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1950.
In 2024, there were 287 events called into Texas County 9-1-1 involving possible heart related issues. Most patients never have a heart history or issues.
Below are just a few excerpts from what you may hear during a medical emergency call. During any call, emergency personnel are dispatched as soon as the address/location and the chief complaint is obtained. Dispatch is trained to talk with people having a wide range of emotional responses to any event.
As the phone rings:
Dispatcher: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”
Caller: “It is my grandma, she doesn’t feel well, and I think she needs to be checked out.”
The patient was 83 years old. She had been nauseated for most of the day with some of what she described as discomfort in her back.
Dispatcher: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”
Caller: “I apologize for calling but I don’t feel well enough to drive. I think I am having a heart attack.”
This was a 62-year-old man, who was described as having heartburn all night, and today as he was taking the trash out started having pain in his left arm. There was no history of any heart conditions.
Dispatcher: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”
Caller: “Something is not right! I need help now! Something is going on this time, I know it is. It is not like before; please hurry, I think I am going to die!”
This was a 29-year-old woman who was known to call many times in the past. She was having trouble breathing and couldn’t provide much information.
Dispatcher: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”
Caller: “Hello, it’s my mom. She says she is OK, but I think she needs to be checked out. She has been vomiting and complaining that her face and jaw have been hurting.”
This was a 52-year-old woman with no heart history. Overall healthy and no other issues. She was a little short of breath, but she chopped it up to being busy around the house preparing for company.
Dispatcher: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?”
Caller: “I am having a heart attack!”
Dispatch was able to obtain the location, however the caller was reluctant to give any further information. Caller abruptly hung up the phone after yelling: “Just get here and stop asking so many questions, I am having a crisis and you and your damn questions are not helping!”
Dispatch made multiple attempts to get him back on the phone, but all calls went unanswered. This was a 65-year-old man who had many health conditions, including previous heart attacks and diabetes.
Dispatcher: “9-1-1, where is your emergency?
Caller: “I am visiting with my son and something is not right. I think he needs to go to the hospital. He has been sleeping all day and says it is difficult to move his legs. He says they are heavier than yesterday; I am not sure what he means by that. Can someone just check on him?
This was a 23-year-old man, no history of any heart disease. He had not felt like himself in a couple days. He never had any pain or trouble breathing.
Out of the above scenarios, each one of the patients was having a cardiovascular event. Each call that is made to 9-1-1 is treated as a new emergency, no matter how many times a certain caller has called. Even if in the past the calls did not result in what the caller was claiming. No one should ever feel the need to apologize for calling into 9-1-1 for what they feel is an emergency. No two people see all emergencies the same and no emergency call is ignored.
The questions that dispatch asks are intended to assist the patient. The answers are relayed to the responding field first responders to help them prepare for when they arrive on scene. It does not take away from the dispatch or response time of any aid. In certain cases, it helps to let the responding paramedic understand what is happening and be a little more prepared. If the paramedic deems that the patient should be flown out from hearing the updated information before arrival, especially from our rural area, the dispatch time for the helicopter would be quicker.
There are a range of symptoms related to a possible heart attack including but not limited to: pain in the chest, back, arm, jaw or shoulder. Chest tightness, pressure or heaviness. Feeling exhausted, profuse sweating, nausea and/or vomiting. Skin that is blush in color and/or cool, pale or moist, sometimes described as clammy. Weakness and anxiety. Each person can experience these symptoms differently. They can also vary between male and female.
I encourage everyone to have regular health check-ins with their primary care physician.
If you believe you or a loved one may be having any type of emergency, call 9-1-1 at the first sign.
The Texas County Emergency Services office in Houston is funded by a 3/8-cent countywide sales tax approved by voters in 2013. Director Terra Culley can be reached by phone at 417-967-5309 or by email at terraculley911@hotmail.com.