Citizen Takes Emergency Call at Home

A La Crosse County (Wisc.) woman stepped into the role of public safety dispatcher after a 95 year-old misdialed his daughter when calling for help after a fall. Beverly Kratt was soundly sleeping at 2 a.m. when her home telephone rang. At the other end was the man, who apparently pressed the wrong buttons. Realizing the man was in jeopardy, Kratt dialed 911 using her cellular phone and reached comm center supervisor Karen Hoel. The two then traded information as Kratt tried to obtain information from the man, who couldn’t recall his address. But after questioning, the man could recall his daughter’s name, and Hoel tracked the woman down to learn the man’s address. EMS units arrived to take the man to the hospital, and also discovered he had a hearing disability. Kratt was recognized by the county as a 9-1-1 Hero for her actions.