Editor: Recently we had a medical emergency during Sunday Mass. A young woman fainted in her pew. The congregation sprang into action. One parishioner, a registered nurse, rushed to her side and administered immediate help.

I got my wife's cell phone and dialed 911. The first response transferred me to another dispatcher. I'm not sure where it was connected, but I explained the situation to her. I told her I was at Holy Family Catholic Church in Kingsburg and please dispatch an ambulance to help. Immediately she wanted my name, phone number and cross streets. I told her we were only two blocks from the fire department, just call an ambulance. She explained to me she would be happy to call the ambulance, but I had to give her that information. I told her I could run to the fire department faster than dealing with her, so I did. As I got to the front of the fire department an ambulance was rolling toward the church and additional help was on the way. Someone much wiser than me direct dialed the police station.

I learned later that they had my phone number when I called and that a California law makes the caller responsible for the cost of an ambulance if its an unnecessary call. Great, all I was trying to do was help. Somewhere in this situation public safety was involved. Last time I checked the constitution mentions something about "promoting the general welfare." Come on 911 get a mitt, connect the dots and serve the public like you're supposed to. Fortunately the young woman is fine, but it was a scary situation. The bureaucracy lives.

Mike Newell

Kingsburg