Bedford Co. dispatcher's instructions save child's life

BEDFORD CO. (WSLS 10)  - A local family remains whole thanks to the quick thinking and calm voice of a 911 dispatcher. The panicked call came in after the couple's two-year-old boy was found face down in the water at Smith Mountain Lake Sunday morning.

The Bedford County 911 Center manager told us the family of the toddler called for help when they noticed their son was in the water and unresponsive. WSLS10 received a copy of the 911 recording.

"Bedford 911, what's the address for your emergency?" asked dispatcher Michael Miller.

"We have a child that just drowned," commented the family.

Miller who's been with the 911 center for six-years took a call this Memorial Day weekend he'll never forgot.

"Do you have him out of the water?" asked Miller.

"We got him out of the water," commented the parents of the boy.

"Is he breathing," Miller then questioned. "Does anyone know CPR?"

Even though the child was unresponsive for several minutes Miller told us he had to try.

"I have to see and know what going on at scene," said Miller. "Once I knew the child was not breathing, he was our first priority. Once I got the mother to calm down in just a few minutes, we got her to where she put me on speaker phone and she talked the father through CPR with my instructions."

Certified in CPR, Miller's training kicked in. With step by step instructions, Miller helped this family save their child.

"Is he breathing on his own?" Miller questioned. "Can anyone see air moving? Is his chest rising? I need someone to confirm if he's breathing on his own."

"He's back, he's back," said the caller.

The near drowning happened near this shoreline beach at Smith Mountain Lake.  Thanks to that phone call it was a miracle for one family -- but a result that comes from everyday training for Miller.

"This is a child's life that was at hand," Miller told us. "So, it was a little bit more complicated to do CPR on a child."

Miller said you push down with two fingers on the chest on your chest, right where your rib cage meets instead of your hand.

Center management said all employees go through a six month emergency medical dispatch training program where employees learn how to handle different life threatening situations.

"Miller said he was just doing his job, but for his good work the Bedford County Sheriff's Office will recognize Miller with the Sheriff's Life Saving Award at a ceremony later this year.