Careline saves pensioner's life

1/14/2010

Magna Careline saved the life of a 93-year-old woman from Loders after a fire broke out in her kitchen.

Margaret Scott fell at her home while cooking her lunch and the smoke set the alarm off, alerting Magna Careline staff.

They called a relative and the fire service who were on the scene in minutes.

Bridport station officer Nigel Challis said the woman had inhaled smoke from the blackened remains of her lunch but it was unclear if she fell before or after the fire started.

He said: “She seemed confused and we gave her some oxygen. There was a little tiny fire on the cooker and the food had burned dry.

“We made her comfortable while waiting for the ambulance.

“It is now routine for anybody who has been involved in smoke for whatever reason – we give them oxygen which we carry on the fire engine. Oxygen is a wonderful thing for easing the congestion from smoke inhalation.

“Most of the firemen are first aiders now and that came in handy.”

Mrs Scott was taken to Dorset County Hospital and is still being treated there.

Magna Careline general manager, Tanya Grant, said: “Careline has strict procedures that it follows in these circumstances and these were carried out both efficiently and effectively in this case.

“As soon as the smoke detector was activated, one of our operators immediately made contact with the lady and alerted both relatives and the emergency services.

“Our priority is always the welfare and safety of our clients and incidents like this underline the value of having a Careline system installed in people’s homes.

“We are pleased that the lady is now making good progress and we wish her a very speedy recovery.

“Obviously we are just doing our job in these situations but it’s always nice when the job we do makes such a big difference to people’s lives.”

Mrs Scott’s brother-in-law said the fire alarm connected to the Careline system probably saved Mrs Scott’s life.

He said: “Careline called us and the fire brigade. When I got there she was lying in the kitchen and she had turned over a table and she was lying on her zimmer frame and didn’t seem coherent in any way.

“The pan on the cooker was burned dry. I suspect it had been on all night.

“It wasn’t smoke we had to contend with it was just these fumes from the meat in the pan.

“The paramedics examined her and decided she had to go to hospital. “It was a very slick operation.

“I think that Careline is a wonderful system. They are so good because they stay on the phone until they know what is happening – it isan essential thing for old people.

“She is now recovering in Dorchester in hospital.”