Girl who saved grandfather's life hailed as hero

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AMBOY - Austin Williams is far too young to be a doctor. Still, the 6-year-old Dixon girl had the savvy to react to a medical emergency - an action responders say saved her grandfather's life. Austin and her 2-year-old brother were visiting their grandfather in Amboy on Sept. 27. Around 1:30 a.m., she woke to the murmurs of her grandfather, who sounded like he was in pain, she said. "He wouldn't talk to me, because I was saying Papa," she said. Austin remembered being told to call 911 in case of an emergency, and she did exactly that. About 8 minutes later, a police officer was on scene, followed by an ambulance. Her grandfather, Robert Oester, was in a diabetic coma. "Thank God I was baby-sitting," said Oester, 61, "or else I probably still would have been laying there." Austin was honored for her actions at this week's Amboy City Council meeting, where she accepted a plaque and a first-responder's pin from the Lee County 911 Center. Austin's mother, Tiffany Oester, 25, said the news that her little girl saved her father's life evoked mixed emotions. "I was very happy she knew what to do, but terrified she had to go through it," she said. Shelley Dallas of the 911 center said she was amazed how collected Austin was by the end of her phone call. In a field that tends to bear bad news, Austin's tale was a triumphant one for her whole department, Dallas said. "We've really never been able to recognize a child for doing something so courageous," she said. "I just think it's great that parents are teaching their [children] the uses of 911, and this child definitely deserves to be recognized for the service she did." Teach them to be safe Teaching your child to call 911 Asking your child, "What would you do if we had a fire in our house?" or "What would you do if you saw someone trying to break in?" gives you a chance to discuss what constitutes an emergency and what should be done if one occurs. Role-playing is an especially good way to address various emergency scenarios and give your child the confidence to handle them. When to call 911 Learning what is an emergency goes hand in hand with learning what isn't. A fire, an intruder in the home, an unconscious family member are all things that would require a call to 911. A skinned knee, a stolen bicycle or a lost pet wouldn't. Still, teach children to make the call if they aren't sure. Also, make sure your child understands that calling 911 as a joke is a crime in many places. Stress that whenever an unnecessary call is made to 911, it might hurt someone who actually needs help. How to use 911 Although most 911 calls are now traced, it's still important for children to know their address and phone number. They will need to give that information to the operator as a confirmation so time isn't lost sending emergency workers to the wrong address. Make sure they know that even though they shouldn't give personal information to strangers, it's OK to trust the 911 operator. Walk them through some of the questions the operator will ask, including: • Where do you live/where are you calling from? • What type of emergency is this? • Who needs help? • Is the person awake and breathing? More safety tips • Always refer to the emergency number as "9-1-1," not "9-11." In an emergency, your child may not know how to dial the number correctly because of trying to find the "11" button. • Make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street so that police, fire or ambulance workers can easily locate your address. • If you live in an apartment building, make sure your child knows the apartment number and floor. • If you have special circumstances, such as an elderly grandparent or a person with a heart condition, epilepsy or diabetes living in your home, prepare your child by discussing specific emergencies that could occur and how to spot them. • Keep a first-aid kit handy and make sure children and baby sitters know where to find it. When your children are old enough, teach them basic first aid. • Keep a list of emergency phone numbers near each phone. This should include police, fire and medical numbers (this is particularly important if you live in one of the few areas where 911 is not in effect), as well as a number where you can be reached, such as your cell phone or work number. Also consider including any known allergies, especially to any medication, medical conditions and insurance information. Source: KidsHealth.org