In Laurens County, South Carolina (USA), you’re more likely to be surrounded by trees than traffic jams, which is ideal for a slower pace of life. However, the forests and wide rural expanses pose their own difficulties in the case of sending emergency responders when pace is critical.
“Our biggest challenge is having ambulances or Quick Response Vehicles at the right places at the right time,” Director Chris McCord said. Adding further complication, prior to July 2023, the Laurens County E911 center didn’t provide any formal Pre-Arrival Instructions to callers despite the difficulties imposed by their area of 67,712 square miles.
Implementing the Medical Priority Dispatch System™ (MPDS®) has been a huge enhancement to guide callers on what they can do immediately before responders arrive, though it has taken some time for the public to get used to the change.
“Like every change, it’s a work in progress,” McCord said. “We have some growing pains where people don’t understand why we’re suddenly asking questions.”
That’s where EMD/EFD/EPD Honesty Godfrey’s focus on reassurance has been so impactful. “Usually, I’ll reassure the caller that I’m gathering information and explain that my partner already has help on the way,” she said.
With nearly two years in her first position out of high school, Godfrey views her role as an Emergency Dispatcher as a perfect opportunity to help her community. “The best part is being the missing link to help others in life-and-death situations,” she said.
Godfrey cheered on her team while adjusting to the new Medical Protocol, telling everyone, “We’re going to save somebody.”
That moment came in December 2023, nearly six months after the center’s MPDS implementation. Godfrey received a call reporting that a young female with a history of seizures had been convulsing prior to becoming unresponsive, not breathing, and turning blue. She quickly recognized that the woman was in cardiac arrest.
At first the caller was frantic, so Godfrey focused on showing courteous, sympathetic care while gaining control of the call. “After a minute, the caller was calm and doing everything I needed him to do,” she said.
Seamlessly, Godfrey followed the protocol pathway to gather information, select the appropriate code, and immediately access CPR instructions during the 7.5-minute call. At one point, she heard a Laurens County Sheriff's deputy at the scene taking over the patient’s compressions before emergency medical services arrived.
Though disconnecting the line is different from disconnecting from the emotion and effort to help a patient, Godfrey tries to be forward focused. “I do what I have to do on that call,” she said. “Then I’m onto the next call.”
McCord admires Godfrey’s dedication and focus to keep going, though he is trying to create opportunities for his team to deal with the difficulty of hearing the desperate pleas and sometimes final moments of someone’s life.
“We need to train our supervisors to give our dispatchers a minute in a quiet room to address the mental stresses,” he said. “Officers debrief and fire departments do, too. We don’t want our dispatchers to be forgotten.”
In hopes to provide relief to his team, McCord tries to discover patient outcomes, celebrating the news of patients who walk out of the hospital, as was the case with Godfrey’s cardiac arrest call.
A few weeks later during a holiday-themed party, Godfrey was honored with the center’s first CPR Save Award (pin) and was recognized as Telecommunicator of the Year for her professionalism and passion for serving the community. Her new title comes with a good parking space, but Godfrey isn’t focused on the glory.
“Honestly, I feel honored and blessed,” Godfrey said. “I’m grateful I was able to help save the patient, and the recognition is just a plus.”
