Telephone conversation between care giver Peter and an emergency services respondent, after Peter finds care resident Mr. Smith unconscious in the care residence gardens.

Situation: Care giver Peter is taking a break in the gardens of the nursing home when he comes across an unconscious Mr. Smith, a resident at the nursing home. Mr. Smith is lying face down, with no obvious sign of injury. Peter uses his mobile phone to contact the emergency services.

Audio: Listen to the audio file here.

Grammar points:

Present continuous tense

Persons: Peter (care giver), emergency services ‘operators’ (telephone voices), Mr. ‘Reg’ Smith (passive actor in the scene) Location: The garden of the Bridge Street nursing home.

Peter:	Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith can you hear me? Mr Smith, Reg! Can you hear me?
Operator 1:	Hello, emergency operator, which service do you require? Fire, police or ambulance.
Peter:	Ambulance please.
Operator 1:	I’ll just connect you now.
Operator 2:	Hello, where are you calling from?
Peter:	From the Bridge Street nursing home on Bridge street, in Coalville. I’m in the gardens at the rear of the property.
Operator 2:	Do you have a number for the property?
Peter:	Yes, it’s 34. It’s the building near the supermarket in Bridge Street.
Operator 2:	OK thank you. What is the nature of your emergency?
Peter:	I’ve just found one of our residents, unconscious in the garden. He’s just lying on the ground, he isn’t moving.
Operator 2:	Is there access to the garden area from the street?
Peter:	Yes, there’s a drive at the right of the building that leads to a gate, that’s the garden.
Operator 2:	May I ask your name?
Peter:	My name’s Peter, I’m a care worker at the nursing home.
Operator 2:	OK Peter, is there any obvious sign of injury to your resident, any cuts, bruises or evidence of a fall?
Peter:	Not that I can see
Operator 2:	Is your resident in any danger from things in the immediate area?
Peter:	No, I don’t think so.
Operator 2:	OK I’ll send someone along immediately. Is your resident breathing?
Peter:	Yes he’s breathing, but he’s breathing in a shallow way.
Operator 2:	Are you able to position your resident so he is lying on his side?
Peter:	Yes, I think so. OK, I’ve done that
Operator 2:	Now tilt your resident’s head back by placing one hand on his forehead and lifting his chin using two fingers.
Peter:	OK. I’ve done that.
Operator 2:	How is the patient breathing now?
Peter:	He’s still breathing, although he seems to be wheezing a little, as though he can’t get his breath.
Operator 2:	Can you tell me anything else about the patient?
Peter:	Yes, I can see now that he’s sweating.
Operator 2:	Is anyone else there with you and the patient?
Peter:	No. I’m hoping one of the other staff members comes out soon.
Operator 2:	Well just relax you’re doing very well. We’ll have someone with you shortly.
Peter:	Is there anything else I can do?
Operator 2:	You can try talking to the patient to see if he responds. You can also check that the patient is still breathing.
Peter:	I think the ambulance has arrived. I can hear the crew walking along the path.
Operator 2:	OK Peter, just explain to the crew how you found the patient and his current condition.
Peter:	I will, thank you.