Between Us

Seizure Smart Pre-schooler Calls 911; Mother has Seizure, is Saved by Young Daughter

By Regina Reid
EpilepsyUSA/between us staff

Three-year-old Sarah Cousins is being called a little hero. It's a title befitting someone who saved her mother's life.

Dateline NBC, a television news magazine program, recently aired the story of little Sarah, who called 911 when her mom, Karen, had a seizure that left her unconscious on the floor.

Karen has had epilepsy since she contracted a near fatal virus at age 19. She doesn't breathe when she's having a seizure, and says if they go on long enough, she starts to black out.

As a single mom with frequent seizures, Karen knew that one day Sarah would need to know what to do in an emergency. So, when her daughter was only 14 months old, Karen started teaching her to dial 911.

"She didn't know the numbers, so I taught her the pattern on the phone," Karen said in the Dateline NBC interview. "We practiced on her play phone."

One day last spring, Karen's lessons with Sarah proved invaluable. Karen had a seizure and blacked out. Seeing her mom on the floor, Sarah began the routine that she and her mother had practiced many times. First, she shook Karen and yelled for her to wake up. When Karen didn't respond, Sarah started jumping on her mother. Then the 3-year-old picked up the phone and called 911.

Dispatcher Pat McKnew, of the San Diego Sheriff's 911 headquarters, took Sarah's call.

"Can Mommy come to the phone?" McKnew asked.

"No, she can't wake up," Sarah answered.

"Does Mommy need some help?"

"You better come here."

McKnew continued talking to Sarah, asking her questions about where her Mommy was and what was wrong with her.

"I wasn't sure whether her mother was just asleep or whether something was wrong," McKnew said. "But when she said her mother was on the floor, I knew something was wrong."

Within minutes the paramedics arrived and revived Karen on the spot.

McKnew said that Sarah did better than a lot of adults do when they call 911 - because she was calm.

"I think it's important for parents to teach their children what to do in case of an emergency," Karen said. "I'm glad she was there."

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