Good Samaritan slammed by transit supervisor for calling 911

Sarah Kriel believes she did the right thing when she dialled 911aftershe sawa fellow passenger go intomedical distress.

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Krielwas on aKelowna city bus on April 20when she saw a woman go limp and drop her belongings. But she was surprised to get a scolding from a transit supervisor for calling an ambulance.

BC Transit has since apologized, sayingKrielacted responsibly.

"This womanthat was chatty went silent and when she started moving she started flashing me her medical bracelet," Krielsaid.

She alertedthe bus driver of the situation,who then pulled over.

Around the same time, the driver made a phone call, Kriel said, and his transit supervisor soon showed up.

Krielsaidthe supervisor helpedthe stricken womanoff the bus. But Krielwas surprised when he grewupset with her for calling an ambulance.

"He then got very aggressiveverbally with meand he just got up on my face and said 'Never call 911. You tell the bus driver to make the call,' "she said.

"He told me that it costs the city $1,000 every single time an ambulance is dispatched," she said.

Kriel described the transit supervisor as dismissive and rude.

BC Transit apologizes

BC Transit and the supervisor have both apologizedto Kriel.

"Things can be said in a stressful situation that can come out the wrong way," saidDrew Snider, BC Transit spokesperson.

"The way it sounds, she did things right from a customer point of view," Snidersaid.

He said the woman does have a medical condition and thetransit system is familiar with it. The woman wastaken off the bus and then driven home after being screened by paramedics.

Snider said the bestprotocol for a transit passenger who witnesses a medical incident isto immediately alert the bus operator of the situation.

"Then the bus driver can make the call, cancontact the transit supervisor and cancontact the ambulance," he said.

Kriel said shewould do it all over again if she had to.

"People need to take action when they see something like this happening. If it is serious or not, leave that to the medicalprofessionals to make that call."

She would also like to see posters on the bus that guidepeople through thesteps to takein case of an emergency.

With files from the CBC'sDaybreak South.

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled:Good Samaritan slammed by transit supervisor for calling 911.