911 Dispatcher Coaches Mom Through CPR To Save Son's Life

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A Canton mother recently got a chance to personally thank the Cherokee County E-911 dispatcher who helped her save her son’s life.

Jennifer Lockhart and her son, Lucas, visited the 9-1-1 center on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and met with the responders who gave her the lifesaving tools to keep her child alive.

The life-changing event started the morning of Oct. 15. Lockhart’s son, Lucas, had not been feeling well and just after lunch time, he had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest.

As his lips turned blue, Lockhart called 9-1-1 for help, The call came into the E-911 center at 12:15 p.m. and was received by Emergency Communications Officer Kayla Ash and Emergency Communications Training Officer Tracy Davis.

Critical information was taken, and the call was dispatched to the Canton Police Department within 39 seconds and to Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services within 41 seconds.

For the next seven minutes, Ash stayed in constant contact with and provided CPR instructions to Lockhart. Canton police officer Christian Cruz was the first to arrive on the scene, and took over the life saving procedures until the medical crew arrived.

The emergency services responders worked with Lucas at the home and restored his breathing and pulse before transporting him to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. Lucas survived the incident, and is ok. 

The American Heart Association states that effective bystander CPR, such as that provided by Emergency Communications Officer Kayla Ash and Lockhart immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.

Sadly, less that eight percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive. Cherokee County officials encourage residents to learn CPR to help improve a victim’s chance of survival.

Contact the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services to get information on a class near you.

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Photo: from left to right are, Communications Officers Tracy Davis and Kayla Ash, Jennifer Lockhart, Lucas Lockhart, and Officer Christian Cruz with Canton Police Department. Credit: Cherokee County E-911.