911 Dispatcher Terri Rigney receives award

  • Published
  • By Consetta Woosley
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  You may not recall what happened during your work shift June 9, 2012, but Coffee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatcher and AEDC fire dispatcher, Terri Rigney, will never forget it. Rigney was part of a Coffee County EMS team that was recently awarded the EMS Star of Life for their part in saving the life of a nine-year-old girl that went into cardiac arrest on June 9, 2012.

Rigney says, "I was working at Coffee County EMS on June 9, 2012, and received a 911 phone call at change of shift from a mother in despair. Her nine-year-old daughter had been swimming in the pool and got out of the pool and collapsed and was non-responsive."

Rigney, a 30-year veteran of dispatching, remained calm and dispatched the sheriff's department and talked the mother through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the paramedics arrived.

Rigney also dispatched an air evacuation team and the girl was transported directly from the ambulance to the helicopter and then taken to Vanderbilt Hospital.

After further examination it was determined the little girl suffered from a rare genetic heart disease and received a transplant in January 2013 and is doing great.

Rigney and other members of the Coffee County EMS team met the little girl May 23 when they were presented the EMS Star of Life, an award to honor the accomplishments of EMS personnel from all regions of Tennessee who provide exemplary life-saving care to adult and pediatric patients.

Daryl Vancise, Deputy Chief of Fire & Emergency Services, said of Rigney's award, "We are extremely proud of Terri's accomplishments and the recognition she's received, and also for the professional service she provides to the AEDC community. Terri is an experienced and dedicated dispatcher and is a valuable asset to the AEDC Fire & Emergency Services organization."

When asked about being part of the team that saved the little girl's life, Rigney said, "It's part of the job. 911 works the way it is supposed to when you do what you're supposed to do the way you are trained."

Rigney has definitely had her share of training including being CPR certified, a licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) and a state licensed EMD as well.

Rigney truly enjoys her work and has always maintained two jobs as a dispatcher during her 30-year career. Rigney says, "Most people work to live but I live to work." For the last two years, Rigney has worked as a dispatcher for Coffee County EMS along with working as dispatcher for AEDC's fire department.

With family ties to AEDC, Rigney has always kept a career at AEDC in her mind, "I've always wanted to work here at Arnold AFB. My dad, Wayne Rigney, retired from here after 40 years in the payroll department. My brother, Mark (Rigney), also works here. I've really enjoyed the people here and expanding my knowledge of fire dispatching."

Although Rigney acknowledges being a dispatcher means your day is never the same, it's also very rewarding. Rigney says, "You never know what your day will consist of but meeting someone whose life you've touched makes you realize the impact you have."

Rigney would like to retire from Arnold AFB but doesn't plan to do so any time soon. "I love my job and I love helping people. I can't imagine doing anything else but dispatching," she said.