Verizon Employee's Quick Action During Routine Call Aids Customer Suffering Life-Threatening Emergency

LIVINGSTON, N.J., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A routine customer call turned out to be anything but that for Verizon sales and service consultant Sonja Legge, whose quick thinking helped to save the life of a woman experiencing a life-threatening emergency.  As a result, Legge has been nominated for the prestigious Verizon Heroes Award.

On May 18, Legge, who works at Verizon's customer service call center in Livingston, was assisting a female customer on the telephone when the customer told Legge that she wasn't feeling well.  After confirming with the woman that she needed help, Legge immediately notified her supervisor, who brought her a cordless phone that she used to call 911.  She spoke with an emergency dispatcher and provided the customer's name, address, home and mobile phone numbers.  

The customer became numb, had trouble breathing and was unable to stand up, but Legge stayed on the line with her, urging her to remain calm and assuring her that help was on the way.  Paramedics soon arrived, and at the hospital, the customer was diagnosed as having suffered a mild stroke.

"Employees like Sonja make us all proud," said Paul Sullivan, Verizon vice president of operations for New Jersey.  "Sonja's quick thinking and heroic efforts exemplify her selfless commitment to others and provide a great example for others to follow."

The customer has recovered and had an opportunity recently to thank Legge for her assistance.  The customer also shared with Legge a poem she had written to show her appreciation for what Legge did for her in her time of need.

The Verizon Heroes Award is one of the highest awards for heroism granted by Verizon.  It honors employees who demonstrate extraordinary courage, skill, judgment and resourcefulness in acts of heroism and unusual merit in service to the public.  All employees and retirees are eligible for the award, as are nonemployees who perform heroic deeds or services directly related to the communications network owned and operated by Verizon.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE,NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon