Vault: A 5 yr-old saves her dad's life on 911 call

Summary

The Bert Show

Episode Title: Vault: A 5 yr-old saves her dad's life on 911 call
Date: June 25, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this emotionally charged episode, The Bert Show spotlights a remarkable real-life 911 call where a courageous five-year-old girl named Savannah helps save her father’s life during a medical emergency. The hosts share the unedited six-minute audio, walking listeners through the call’s tension, tenderness, and unexpected moments of levity. The team reflects on the poise of both Savannah and the 911 operator, highlighting how this story illustrates the power of calm and compassion, even in crisis.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to the Scenario (01:17–01:44)

• Bert reveals the episode's focus: a gripping 911 call from Rochester where a father, experiencing a heart attack, can barely communicate before his five-year-old daughter takes over.
  • “This is a scary piece of audio to listen to. It’s cute in some places. It’s kind of an emotional roller coaster actually.” — Bert (01:17)
• The hosts underscore the emotional weight and intensity as they prepare to share the recording in full.

The 911 Call: Savannah Saves Her Dad (02:05–08:11)

Savannah’s Composure & Leadership

• Savannah demonstrates extraordinary calm and clarity for her age—clearly communicating with the 911 dispatcher and following instructions to unlock the door, keep her dad awake, and provide updates.
  • Memorable Quotes:
    • “My dad can’t hardly breathe.” — Savannah (02:37)
    • “Come real fast.” — Savannah urges, showing urgency but not panic (02:53)
    • “We’re in our jammies and we’re trying to go to bed, but [he] can’t hardly breathe.” (03:48)
    • “You have to stay awake, but…” — Savannah trying to keep her father conscious (04:27)
    • “The amulets are on the way.” (Savannah’s mispronunciation of “ambulance” adds sweetness to a tense moment) (04:05)
    • “Okay, I know what I’m gonna wear, but you really need doctors in real fast.” — Savannah being both practical and aware of the emergency (05:30)

911 Dispatcher’s Expertise

• The dispatcher shifts tone skillfully to comfort Savannah, patiently repeating instructions and offering constant reassurance.
  • “You’re doing a good job, Savannah.” (07:52)
  • “They’re there to help your daddy, so don’t be scared, okay?” (07:57)

Moments of Tenderness and Humor

• Despite the crisis, childhood innocence breaks through:
  • Savannah discusses changing clothes: “Okay, we’re in our jammies and I’m in a TikTok, so I’ll have to get dressed. I know what I’m gonna wear…” (05:30)
  • She reassures her small dog: “Okay, Lulu, it’s gonna be all right.” (07:16)
• Both Savannah and her father are saved by her persistence and calm.

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Host Reflections & Takeaways (08:15–10:03)

• Bert lauds Savannah’s courage and quick thinking:
  • “That girl’s five years old. Saved her dad. He lives. He lived. He saved her dad’s life.” (08:15)
  • “You gotta stay awake, Dad. You gotta stay awake, man.” (08:26)
• Co-hosts praise the dispatcher’s performance and emotional steadiness, noting that even adults often struggle to remain calm during emergencies.
  • “That 911 guy did such a good job... He helped not—I think both the daddy who was struggling and the 911 operator kept her from panicking.” — Co-host (08:42)
  • “I could never be a 911 operator because I’d be panicking right along.” — Bert (09:01)
• The show finds heartwarming humor in Savannah’s repeated insistence on needing to change out of her pajamas.
  • “I think it’s hilarious how two or three times she said, 'I’ve got to go to my room and I’ve got to change clothes.'” — Co-host (09:10)

Listener Reactions (09:20–10:03)

• Callers echo the hosts’ admiration, describing Savannah as a hero and highlighting her maturity.
  • “This little girl’s my hero, man. So touching… so calm and composed and just so—so mature. And she’s just done something that, you know, her dad will never forget.” — Caller (09:30)
• Bert jokes about Savannah’s lifelong leverage in the father-daughter relationship:
  • “You saved your life, Pops. And here’s the audio. It’s on the Internet.” (09:48)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Savannah: “The amulets are on the way.” (04:05)
• Dispatcher: “You’re doing a good job, Savannah.” (07:52)
• Bert: “That girl’s five years old. Saved her dad. He lived. He saved her dad’s life.” (08:15)
• Caller: “This little girl’s my hero, man. So touching…” (09:30)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:17 – Bert introduces the 911 call scenario and its emotional gravity.
• 02:05–08:11 – Full 911 call audio featuring Savannah.
• 08:15 – Hosts reflect on Savannah’s actions and the outcome.
• 09:20 – Listeners call in to share reactions and admiration.

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Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The tone is a mix of suspense, admiration, and warmth. The story is handled with genuine emotion and a dash of humor, staying true to The Bert Show’s signature blend of realness and heart. The hosts and callers alike marvel at both Savannah’s extraordinary calm and the positive outcome—leaving listeners uplifted and inspired by the resilience found in the most unlikely heroes.

Transcript

[Bert]

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[911 Operator]

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[Bert]

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[Caller Sarah]

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[Bert]

is a scary piece of audio to listen to. It's cute in some places. It's kind of an emotional roller coaster actually. And it happened in Rochester a couple of days ago. And I think on the front end of this you can hear dad trying to talk to the 911 dudes cause he's having a heart attack.

[Co-host]

It makes my chest like I'm just. I'm just like makes my chest hurt to hear him have this heart. I hope I don't have a heart attack during this.

[Bert]

So I think you can quick like in the very beginning you hear him like grab the phone and try to give the phone number out or his address or something like that. Then he gives the phone to his five year old daughter and now she's responsible for saving his Life on the phone. 911 and this is six minutes long. And I looked for a place to edit it and there's no way I could do it because it's just so intriguing to listen to the entire time.

[911 Operator]

911. Hello? 911 Excuse me one Are you there? 113-344-44. What's wrong? What's wrong?

[Savannah (Child)]

My dad can't hardly breathe.

[911 Operator]

Okay, hold on a second. Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay.

[911 Operator]

How old are you?

[Savannah (Child)]

I'm five years old.

[911 Operator]

Okay. What's your name?

[Savannah (Child)]

Savannah.

[911 Operator]

Okay, Savannah, hold on. I'm getting them dispatched. Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. Come real fast.

[911 Operator]

Okay, Savannah, I have them on the way. Is your daddy still awake?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah.

[911 Operator]

Okay. Is your front door unlocked?

[Savannah (Child)]

Savannah, is the front door unlocked? No.

[911 Operator]

Okay, Savannah, can you go unlock that front door for me? Sure. Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

Worry ed. Okay.

[911 Operator]

Okay. Savannah, is the door unlocked?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yes.

[911 Operator]

Okay. Has your daddy ever had problems like this before?

[Savannah (Child)]

What?

[911 Operator]

Has your daddy ever had this problem before?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yes.

[911 Operator]

Okay. Has he been sick?

[Savannah (Child)]

No.

[911 Operator]

Okay, Is he still awake?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yes.

[911 Operator]

Okay, Savannah, just make sure. Just try to keep him awake, okay?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah.

[911 Operator]

Okay, I have him on the. I have the ambulance on the way. Okay, I'm gonna keep you on the phone, okay?

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. We're in our gammies and we're trying to go to bed, but can't hardly breathe.

[911 Operator]

Okay? Can he talk to you?

[Savannah (Child)]

Dad, can you talk to me?

[911 Operator]

Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

Yes.

[911 Operator]

Okay. Tell him the ambulance is on the

[Savannah (Child)]

way, the amyloids are on the way.

[911 Operator]

All right, Savannah, just stay on the line with me, okay?

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. Stay calm. Dad, I know you haven't had oxygen

[911 Operator]

before, but are you there, Savannah?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah, I'm still on the phone.

[911 Operator]

Okay, just let me know. Keep him awake. Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay, you have to stay awake, but

[911 Operator]

just tell him the ambulance is on the way, so they'll be there here in a minute, okay?

[Savannah (Child)]

They'll be here just a minute. The amulets are on the way.

[911 Operator]

Okay, Just let me know. He really needs oxygen.

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah, real bad.

[911 Operator]

Real bad. Okay, well, they're on the way with it, so they'll be there here in a minute. I'm just gonna keep you on the line, okay? Tell me if he falls asleep or anything, all right?

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay.

[911 Operator]

Is he still awake?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah.

[911 Operator]

Okay, and did you say he's been sick or anything?

[Savannah (Child)]

Have you been sick? No.

[911 Operator]

Can you ask him if this has ever happened before?

[Savannah (Child)]

Has this ever happened? No. So far, so good. He fell away.

[911 Operator]

Hey, ask him if he has any kind of chest pain.

[Savannah (Child)]

Do you have any chest pain? Yes.

[911 Operator]

Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

This is his first time.

[911 Operator]

Okay. I got him on the way, so.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay, we're in our jammies and I'm in a TikTok, so I'll have to get dressed. Okay, I know what I'm gonna wear, but you really need doctors in real fast. Yes, the door's unlocked.

[911 Operator]

Okay, you tell me when you can hear the ambulance, all right?

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. I'm sorry. Dad.

[911 Operator]

Dad, you're Doing a good job, Savannah.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. His name is Frank.

[911 Operator]

His name is Frank. You're doing a good job. All right, Savannah, just stay on the phone, okay? They should be getting there any minute.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. Like, how many minutes?

[911 Operator]

Probably only a couple. They're on the way. Just make sure your daddy's probably okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

You have to stay awake. They'll be in a couple minutes. I can hear him.

[911 Operator]

You can hear them?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah.

[911 Operator]

Okay. I'm gonna keep you on the line till they get in the house, all right?

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. Okay, dad. It's okay.

[911 Operator]

So you still doing okay, Savannah?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah, he's okay.

[911 Operator]

Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

I'll be in my room and I'll be putting on.

[911 Operator]

Say, Savannah, she's still. I want you to stay there with your daddy, okay?

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay.

[911 Operator]

I need you to make sure that he stays awake, so.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay, I got that. And we have a dog that's really

[911 Operator]

small, so he's friendly.

[Savannah (Child)]

He's friendly.

[911 Operator]

Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

He kind of barks.

[911 Operator]

He kind of barks. That's all right, though.

[Savannah (Child)]

Come on, family. It's unborn. Come on. Lulu. Come here. Hurry. Come here.

[911 Operator]

Is your dad okay still?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah, so far so good. Okay, Lulu, it's gonna be all right.

[911 Operator]

Is he still awake, Savannah?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah, he's still awake.

[911 Operator]

Okay. The ambulance should be getting there anytime.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay? And he looks like he's real shaky.

[911 Operator]

Hold on, Savannah. Okay.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay.

[911 Operator]

Is the fireman there, Savannah?

[Savannah (Child)]

I don't know. Yeah, they're here.

[911 Operator]

All right, so they're in the house now?

[Savannah (Child)]

No, I see the red light.

[911 Operator]

All right, Savannah, just tell me when they get in the house, okay? And I'll disconnect with you.

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay. I am real shaky too.

[911 Operator]

Yeah, you're real shaky, too.

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah.

[911 Operator]

They're there to help your daddy, so don't be scared, okay?

[Savannah (Child)]

Okay.

[911 Operator]

Are they there? Hey, Savannah, you did good job. Okay. All right. Savannah, you did a good job.

[Savannah (Child)]

It's okay, Daddy. I'm gonna go put.

[911 Operator]

Okay. I'm gonna. I'm gonna go disconnect. Okay?

[Savannah (Child)]

Yeah.

[Bert]

That girl's five years old. Saved her dad. He lives. He lived. He saved her dad's life.

[Co-host]

Saved his life more than just the phone call because, you know, he held on because she was in the room with him, you know, so.

[Caller]

Wow.

[Bert]

And I could sort of see in my head, like, him closing his eyes, and she. She's looking at him going, you gotta stay awake, dad. You gotta stay awake, man.

[Co-host]

You can't go to sleep.

[Bert]

Sadie was on the phone and said that he was. He's a 911 operator, and he said that adults aren't even that calm when they call.

[Co-host]

Unbelievable. She did so. Oh, Precious. And that 911 guy did such a good job because when his voice switched when daddy got on the phone, and then when she got on the phone, he did such a good job with her, and he helped not. I think both the daddy who was struggling and the 911 operator kept her from panicking.

[Bert]

I could never be in 911 operator because I'd be panicking right along. Oh, my God. You gotta call somebody. Your dad's having a heart attack. You've gotta call somebody.

[Co-host]

I'm like, I think it's hilarious how two or three times she said, I've got to go to my room and I've got to change clothes.

[Bert]

Right? She wanted out of those PJs, man. Hey, Sarah. Good morning. You're on the Burt Show.

[Caller Sarah]

Hi.

[Caller]

Hi, Bert Show.

[Bert]

Hey.

[Caller]

First and foremost, I've been sick, so I haven't been able to listen to you for quite some time. So I really missed you guys.

[Bert]

Oh, we've missed you, too. What's up?

[Caller]

But I just want to say this little girl's my hero, man. So touching.

[Co-host]

She was so.

[Caller]

So calm and composed and just so. So mature. And she's just done something that, you know, her dad will never forgive her for, and she'll. She'll never forget it.

[Bert]

You know, she's got the advantage in the relationship her entire life now. Anything she wants, she wants. Car. She wants tuition to the best school in the country. You saved your life, Pops. And here's the audio. It's on the Internet. I created a website and a Facebook page. There I am.

[Caller Sarah]

Show.