KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An eight-year-old Kansas City girl who called 911 and saved her mom’s life got an award for heroism Monday, and her classmates at Barry Elementary School got to share in her honor.
Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department brass plus the EMS and firefighters, who responded that day gathered in Emma Miller’s third grade classroom to honor two hero’s; eight-year-old Emma and the 911 operator who helped her on the other end of the line.
“My dad always told me if there was a situation, anything like that to call 911 and then I just knew to do it,” said Emma.
That lesson led to saving her mom, and the regional 911 hero award.
“We reward children who show that they know how and when to use 911 by performing some heroic action during an emergency,” said KCFD Deputy Fire Chief Vince Voucher.
September 25, Emma’s mom, Brandi Miller, passed out after the blood pressure medication she took forced her blood pressure dangerously low.
“She is still breathing, except she is only like, she’ll breathe in kinda stop for a minute and then breathe back out. Stop for a minute, breathe back in,” said Emma during the 911 call.
“Is her head still tilted back?” asked the operator.
“Her head is facing up,” said Emma.
“OK, can you tilt her neck back a little bit?” asked the operator.
“Um,” said Emma.
“That will help open up her airway so that she can breathe better,” said the operator.
“Hold on,” said Emma.
The voice of that operator on the other end of that call was Krystin Judds, who also won an award.
“Getting an unconscious call is pretty normal. Getting a call from an eight-year-old is highly unlikely,” said KCFD Communications Specialist Judds.
Listen to Emma’s 911 call
“The sirens are getting really loud,” said Emma during the 911 call.
“Yeah, they are almost to your street, OK?” said Judds.
“OK,” said Emma.
“Go ahead and stay on the phone with me, OK?” said Judds.
“OK. I am going to see if she is still breathing,” said Emma.
“Perfect,” said Judds.
“Words cannot describe how proud I am of her. She truly is a hero,” said Emma’s mom, Brandi Miller.
“I pretty much just called and did what I needed to do,” said Emma.
At the time, the only other people home with Emma were her 6-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister. She says every kid should know what to do in that situation.
“Because if you didn’t know, how would you help someone in that kind-of situation,” said Emma.
