Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

Nimo is a home health aide who has a client named Mrs. Carlson. When Nimo arrives at Mrs. Carlson’s house on Tuesday morning, she greets her and says, “How are you, Mrs. Carlson?” Mrs. Carlson is slumped in her chair. She looks at Nimo but doesn’t say anything. She tries to answer, but she can only move the left side of her face and mouth. She slurs her words. Nimo thinks that Mrs. Carlson had a stroke. A stroke victim usually cannot move one side of the body. Nimo touches Mrs. Carlson on the shoulder, but Mrs. Carlson can’t respond to her. Nimo recognizes that this is an emergency and she needs to call 9-1-1 right away. She is afraid, but she remains calm and doesn’t panic.

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Nimo calls 9-1-1 from Mrs. Carlson’s landline. It is better to call 9-1-1 from a landline than from a cell phone because the operator can more easily trace a call from a landline if the caller hangs up.

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The operator says, “9-1-1. What’s your emergency?” People call 9-1-1 for many different kinds of emergencies, including fires, burglaries, and car accidents. They call 9-1-1 for medical emergencies that require immediate medical attention such as strokes, heart attacks, and choking. The caller needs to tell the operator what type of emergency she is calling about.

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Nimo answers, “I think my client had a stroke! Can you help?”

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The operator says, “Of course. Tell me the address, please.”

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Nimo tells the operator the address. When the operator asks about Mrs. Carlson’s symptoms, Nimo describes her condition. The operator sends an ambulance to the house. Nimo goes to sit beside Mrs. Carlson. She holds her hand and tells her that an ambulance will be arriving soon. Nimo is worried about Mrs. Carlson, but she knows that she did the right thing: she called 9-1-1 in an emergency. Help is on the way.