Direct Line to Fatal Call: 911 Operator's Testimony at Coroner's Inquest for UVic Student Overdose Case
Rewritten Article:
The 911 operator who took the call during Sidney McIntyre-Starko's tragic overdose at the University of Victoria has spoken out after a grueling testimony. Kylie Alfano, a former emergency call-taker for BC Emergency Health Services, revealed that despite her suspicions, they're always told to trust the caller.
That fateful night, a student identified as "Student 2" didn't immediately disclose drug usage. Student 2, McIntyre-Starko, and another individual, "Student 3," ingested fentanyl-laced cocaine on January 23, 2024.
The 911 call - played in full at the trial for the jury - began with Student 2 and Alfano trying to pinpoint the location. Ironically, this process lasted for an unusually long 3 and a half minutes. Alfano acknowledged that this was longer than typical, with one of McIntyre-Starko's family lawyers, Justin Giovannetti, suggesting that she could've moved on to the medical screening after about a minute and a half. Alfano, however, argued that she needed to investigate the location issue further to ensure rapid response.
A significant aspect of Alfano's testimony was classifying the call as a seizure call, rather than cardiac arrest or drug poisoning, as Student 2 described instances of seizing and turning blue, but withheld drug involvement. Alfano pointed out that they must rely on the provided information and not make assumptions. "We're not there to judge anyone," she said, adding, "When someone's hesitant to tell us all the info, it can be heartbreaking, as I just want to do the best job I can."
A report by former Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich indicated a 15-minute gap between McIntyre-Starko's collapse and when security administered naloxone. The coroner's inquest resumes next Monday.
When dealing with emergency calls in overdose situations, especially when callers are reluctant to discuss drug usage, 911 operators are trained to respond in a manner that prioritizes safety and gathers essential information. They're taught non-confrontational questioning techniques to gauge the severity of the situation and avoid potential confrontation. Understanding Good Samaritan laws and making data-driven responses are also crucial aspects of their training. There's an increased focus on building trust and using calm, clear communication to encourage reluctant individuals to share vital details.
- The 911 operator, Kylie Alfano, highlighted that in overdose situations, they are trained to prioritize health-and-wellness and gather essential information, employing non-confrontational questioning techniques and calm, clear communication to build trust.
- Alfano emphasized that in overdose cases, they are not there to judge, and encourage reluctant individuals to share vital details, as they must rely on the provided information and not make assumptions about mental-health or drug poisoning.
- Increasingly, security personnel, like those in the University of Victoria, are being equipped with knowledge on science, health, and Good Samaritan laws to respond effectively in emergency overdose situations and administer life-saving treatment swiftly, such as naloxone.
- As the coroner's inquest resumes next Monday, it is likely that security measures and health-and-wellness protocols will once again be scrutinized for their effectiveness in drug overdose situations to improve health and mental-health outcomes in such incidents.
