Simple phone call saved a life

Every day, close to 70 seniors living alone receive a telephone call from a volunteer of the Greater Chateauguay Volunteer Action Centre to assure that everything is okay. This simple phone call enabled a woman’s life to be saved recently. Translation Dan Rosenburg Roger Brault is a volunteer at the Bonjour Quotidien Pair in Chateauguay. One morning, when he was making his round of calls, he noticed that the subscriber at the other end of the line seemed to be suffering. ‘’He quickly alerted the police and paramedics. Somebody promptly took charge of the woman and she was able to receive the appropriate assistance,’’ reports the Chateauguay police service. ‘’That morning, I understood all the importance of a simple phone call for a person living alone. I realized that I had just participated in a rescue by helping a person in distress,’’ confided the Good Samaritan. Chateauguay police indicate that about ten rescues of that kind have been done since this service was inaugurated in 2008. Acording to Annik Hall, director general of the Volunteer Action Centre, this daily phone call planned at a certain time is ‘’benevolent.’’ Before, it was a recorded call and the volunteer listened to the response of the subscriber. The formula has been changed during recent months and it is now a live voice discussion. ‘’That enables human contact,’’ she explains. ‘’If the person says she is not feeling well, the volunteer is going to ask her what is wrong. The person can then be referred to an intervenor who takes care of vulnerable senior citizens.’’ People interested in registering free of charge with this bilingual service can do so by contacting the Greater Chateauguay Volunteer Action Service at 450 699-6289.