By Adam Murphy
CBS Atlanta.com
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — 90-year-old Marie Jones called for medical help Monday after suffering from severe pain in her arm. She said she pressed an emergency medical button in her apartment which contacted Connect America. Jones said that company then notified DeKalb County emergency services, but it took 25 minutes before help arrived at The Atrium on Georgetown Square near Dunwoody.
“I was shaking actually and I told them how unhappy I was and that I would not let it go,” said Marie’s son Rick Jones.
Not only was the response time delayed, but emergency workers did not have an ambulance to transport Marie to the hospital.
“They seemed a little bit unsure of themselves. One of them was talking to a dispatch and after 15 minutes they told me there wasn’t anything they could do and they unfortunately didn’t have a vehicle that could transport her to the hospital,” said Jones.
Here’s a look at the time line, according to Jones. He said his mother pressed the emergency button at 10:20 Monday morning. At 10:29, Jones said DeKalb Fire and Rescue was dispatched. At 10:38, Jones said he pressed the emergency button a second time. At 10:45, DeKalb Fire and Rescue arrived at Jones’ apartment. At 11:00, Jones said rescue crews told him that there was no ambulance service available to take his mother to the hospital.
“My tough question is how could this happen? How could no vehicles be available? How could we spend that much time waiting only to be told that we can’t help you that you have to drive your mother to the emergency room,” said Jones.
DeKalb County’s Director of Public Safety told CBS Atlanta News that the county was responding to four other emergencies at the same time and therefore they did not have the manpower or equipment to promptly help Jones.
Republished with permission from CBS Atlanta.com. Click here to watch the video.