Real-life Incident: Anna’s Story – Heart Attack While Working Alone

‘Please hurry!’ How Anna’s G7 Saved Her Life

Pain ripped through Anna’s chest and back, taking her breath away.

She felt dizzy and like she was about to faint. A second wave of pain made it hard to think. Something was really wrong, and she was working alone with no one around to help.

She immediately pulled the SOS latch on her G7 device. Within seconds, a Blackline Safety Operations Centre (SOC) agent answered the call. 

“Oh no!” Anna gasped, just as a voice came through her device. 

"Anna? We received an SOS alert. Are you okay?” the agent asked. 

“No, I don’t feel well. I think I’m going to pass out,” Anna replied. 

The agent leapt into action, immediately dispatching emergency services to Anna’s exact location, which he could read on his screen thanks to the GPS built into Anna’s G7 device. He also shared the details with a second SOC agent and asked them to call the emergency number for Anna’s employer so they could send a coworker to her location. 

The agent notified Anna that help was on the way, and started confirming details, like her first and last name. 

“Please hurry!” said Anna. “I don’t want to die…” Her voice trailed off as another wave of pain shot through her. 

“Help is on the way,” the agent said. “Stay with me. Focus on my voice.” 

The agent kept Anna talking. Her voice told him that she was in significant distress, and he wanted to make sure she knew someone was there for her and help was coming. 

Less than three minutes after Anna had activated the SOS, Anna’s coworker arrived on the scene. The second SOC agent had passed along Anna’s location, including the building’s address and GPS coordinates, so he was able to find her quickly. 

“I'm here. I’ve got you,” the coworker said. 

Hearing the additional voice, the SOC agent called out through Anna’s G7, confirming that someone was with her. The agent then stayed on the line with both of them until emergency services arrived to take Anna to the hospital. 

Recovering and Grateful

Anna’s employer later contacted Blackline Safety to let them know that she had suffered a heart attack and was recovering.  

The company, and Anna, expressed heartfelt gratitude that Anna had her G7 so she could quickly call for help that day. Anna also thanked the SOC agent for providing her comfort just by being a human voice during her terrifying ordeal, so she knew she wasn’t alone.

There are about 10,000 cardiac arrests in the workplace each year in the United States, according to a report from OSHA. Waiting for the arrival of emergency medical system personnel results in only 5-7% survival.

Essential Protection for Lone Workers 

Working alone can increase both the likelihood of incidents and the severity of adverse outcomes because it can take a long time for anyone to notice something is wrong, let alone get help for a downed worker. That’s why it’s critical to have a comprehensive lone worker program, including a way for lone workers to get immediate help when they need it.

Thanks to her company’s investment in Blackline’s G7 for lone worker protection, Anna is not part of this statistic.

This real-life incident is a true story. Names, locations, and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved. 

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