A Beyond Housing customer’s life was saved by her quick-thinking three-year-old daughter following a seizure at her home in Whitby.
25-year-old Emma Walker – whose Beyond Housing apartment is fitted with a Coastcall emergency support system due to her epilepsy – had a severe, potentially life-threatening seizure caused by an infection and was found unconscious by her daughter, Eva.
Eva had previously been told the red button on Emma’s Coastcall pendant was only to be pressed in emergencies, so when she found her mother unresponsive and shaking on the floor, the youngster pressed the button and raised the alarm with call handler Debra Morton.
Coastcall is a 24-hour service, provided by Beyond Housing, that enables older, disabled or vulnerable people to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
Debra spoke with Eva for 13 minutes as the toddler kept up a commentary on her mum’s condition till Coastcall responder Michelle Booth and the emergency ambulance team arrived.
Mum Emma Walker said: “Eva was absolutely amazing – she’s occasionally been gently told off for pressing my alarm button for fun, but I’ve explained to her that she should only press it if it was an emergency and she couldn’t wake mummy.
“Thankfully, that’s exactly what she did when I really needed help.
“If it wasn’t for Eva, the paramedics and the fabulous Coastcall team, I might not be here now.”
Michelle Booth, Coastcall responder, said: “Eva acted brilliantly – her long conversation with Debra kept us updated until I arrived at the apartment with the paramedics close behind me.
“It’s a perfect testament to how effective and important Beyond Housing’s independent living equipment is to our customers in emergency situations – and so simple to use it can be operated by a three-year-old.”
Beyond Housing is one of the largest registered housing providers in the North East and North Yorkshire, managing over 15,000 homes across the north east and North Yorkshire.
Image: Beyond Housing’s Coastcall responder Michelle Booth (right) and Emma Walker with her daughter, Eva
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