Dispatcher Honored for Saving Life

Sheriff’s Dispatch Supervisor Shannon Hoogenbosch was honored today for helping to save the life of 54-year-old Santa Maria resident Mike Hanneman when she answered a 911 call on June 27 and calmly coached Hanneman’s wife through cardiopulmonary resuscitation and preparations for the arrival of paramedics. Representatives of the Sheriff’s Department, the Public Health Department, the Dispatch Center, and Emergency Medical Services presented Hoogenbosch with the County Public Health Department’s Emergency Medical Dispatch Save Award, praising Hoogenbosch’s “excellent work” as a “very important piece of the team” that works together saves lives.

Dr. Angelo Salvucci, Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services, explained that Hoogenbosch’s ability to calm Mrs. Hanneman over the phone, ascertain that her husband was in cardiac arrest, and instruct her in CPR, was crucial to the success of the mission. Salvucci also took the opportunity to “promote that everyone learn CPR,” saying it can help us keep friends and family safe.

Mike Hanneman was also present, in the flesh, to thank Hoogenbosch for her “professionalism,” giving her a hug and saying that “from the minute 911 was called, I was taken care of. . . . I survived and I survived well because of the efforts of everyone.” Though Hoogenbosch was humble about her award, it was clear that her steadfastness has proved well-suited on many occasions to her job as dispatcher. She won the same award in 2008 for helping to save the life of a 65-year-old woman who had gone into cardiac arrest. She said it was an “overwhelming feeling” to be able to meet the living, breathing, product of her work. She also spoke to what should be done in the case of an emergency. “I know the situation is hard,” she said, “but you’ve got to stay calm.”