When eight-year-old Dorian McCollum saw his grandmother collapse, instinct took over.
Blood pooled at her mouth, but instead of freezing, Dorian did what few adults might manage—he grabbed her phone and called 911.
He didn’t have his own phone, and his iPad couldn’t make calls. Still, he thought fast.
“They said, ‘9-1-1, what’s your emergency?’” Dorian recalled. “I said my grandma was sleeping and blood was coming out of her mouth.”
His clear voice helped dispatchers act fast.
Every Second Mattered
Mobile County EMS says Dorian’s calm, specific directions helped paramedics find his home faster.
He told them what the house looked like and stayed on the line until they arrived. His grandmother survived because of that composure.
Later, Dorian admitted he was scared. He didn’t even know what a seizure was, but he did exactly what emergency experts teach: call, describe, and stay connected.
It’s the kind of quick thinking that can mean the difference between panic and a miracle.
Lessons for Every Household
Dorian’s story has Mobile County EMS urging families to make emergency readiness a household conversation.
Their advice is simple but powerful: teach children to memorize their address, know how to call 911, keep doors unlocked for first responders, and stay on the phone until help arrives.
It’s the sort of knowledge most people overlook until they need it.
Dorian’s quick action proved that even the youngest family members can be trained to save lives.
Courage Beyond His Years
Back at Council Traditional School, Dorian’s become something of a local celebrity. His teachers and classmates know him as the kid who stayed calm when it mattered most.
But ask Dorian, and he’s still just dreaming about the future: “I want to be a YouTuber, firefighter, doctor, or nurse,” he said. “Because if I was a doctor or nurse, I would know what to do.”
For an eight-year-old, that mix of heart and curiosity says everything about the kind of person he’s growing up to be.
A Hero’s Reminder
Mobile County EMS called Dorian “a shining example that heroes come in all ages.”
His story travels beyond one home in Mobile. It’s a reminder that everyday bravery often begins with preparation.
Emergencies happen in the most ordinary moments: after school, at home, during dinner.
Dorian showed that courage doesn’t wait for adulthood. Sometimes, it sounds like a calm little voice on the other end of a 911 call, doing exactly what needs to be done when every second counts.
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