The E9-1-1 Institute and NENA Host
4th Annual 9-1-1 Honors Gala
March 13, 2007
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Citizen in Action Award
Kaela O’Neill and Nina Hawkins

This year’s Citizen in Action Award goes to a two member team of participants.  One Citizen and one Certified Emergency Dispatcher. 

Kaela O’Neill is a 7-year-old in Second Grade in San Antonio, Texas.  She recently moved to Texas following her father’s assignment at Lackland Air Force Base.  In May of last year when the O’Neill family lived in Florida, Kaela’s mother Kirsten O’Neill started to have a severe asthma attack.  Thinking quickly Kaela picked up a cell phone and
dialed 9-1-1.

Fortunately for Kaela and her mother, on the other end of the line was Nina Hawkins who answered at the Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety.  As Nina questioned Kaela about her mother’s condition, Kaela continued to run back and forth between the phone and her mother. 

Kaela was able to relay her regular phone number to Nina as well as her correct home address which aided in the speedy arrival of paramedics.  Kirsten O’Neill said that her daughter almost started to cry, but Kaela kept it together and realized she was the only person who could save her mother’s life.

Nina Hawkins is a certified Emergency Medical and Emergency Fire Dispatcher for Okaloosa County Department of Public Safety.  Nina’s professional, business-like approach with customers, other team members, and response units are truly second to none.  Her professionalism is also a trait that has lead to the resolution of many critical situations during the course of her work. 

Kaela O’Neill had the instincts and the education needed to pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1 and Oakaloosa County had the experience and knowledge of Nina Hawkins to answer and guide Kaela through saving her mother’s life.  It is because of this great teamwork that we present tonight Kaela O’Neill and Nina Hawkins as our Team 2007 Citizens in Action.