When Caroline Millette started two years ago teaching English to a young student from Iraq, she did not know he would soon be rewarded for using those language skills in an intense situation.
Ali Deen, 8, a first-grader at Briarwood Elementary School, helped translate a 911 call a few months ago after his mother fell at his family’s home. The Medical Center’s Emergency Management Service is rewarding Ali for his actions.
“My mom fell down, and we called the doctor,” Ali said. “And it’s OK.”
His mother recovered, and Ali will receive his award Thursday at Briarwood. EMS specialists reach out to the public and venture to schools, churches and other organizations to teach people about the importance of calling 911.
They spoke to a group, which included Ali, a few months ago, teaching the audience when it’s appropriate to call 911 and how to communicate with the dispatcher and answer his or her questions, said Randy Fathbruckner, director of The Medical Center EMS.
After a dispatcher recounted her conversation with Ali, they discovered that he had attended one of their sessions. EMS specialists then decided to recognize Ali.
“Children are very receptive to (our lectures). They’re fascinated by police, fire and EMS anyway,” Fathbruckner said. “It was obvious that this one really paid attention.”
Tiffany Merten, a communication specialist with The Medical Center, remembers getting a call from a scared child whose mother had fallen down the stairs.
“I was taking calls that night, and I received a call from a little boy,” she said. “He did a great job of answering my questions and was very helpful.”
Ali, the oldest of four children, was inside the house when his mother fell. He remembers his baby sister crying on the floor, and his brothers were outside. After his father dialed 911, Ali stepped in.
“We don’t have a lot of child callers and the fact that he took the initiative and was able to translate and let us know what was going on was amazing to me,” Merten said. “He remained calm and did what we asked him to do. I was really impressed.”
Ali’s family immigrated to Bowling Green from Iraq a couple of years ago. At the time, Ali only spoke Arabic, but he has picked up some English with the help of Millette, an English as a Second Language teacher at Briarwood.
“He’s learned a lot and grown very strong in his English speaking skills both written and verbal,” she said. “It’s amazing how far he’s come.”
