David Schaller
Midlothian, Texas
June 7, 2002
(Editor's note: This Good Samaritan letter was submitted by David Schaller of SKS Incorporated in Midlothian, Texas. It's submitted as an example of how well MEDIC FIRST AID'S system works.)
On Friday June 7, 2002 at about 3:15, I was called to the outside break area by the public address system. I was informed that an employee had passed out and an ambulance had been called. When I arrived I found approximately twenty employees watching what was going on. I saw a supervisor holding the injured employee in the safe breathing position. I knew an ambulance was called, so I directed one of the spectators to go to the entry point to direct the EMS response when they arrived.
I evaluated the scene and asked the supervisor what had happened. He stated that the employee had walked up and started to talk to another employee, as they waited for their shift to start, and he collapsed. The supervisor had rolled him onto his side and called for me.
The employee was breathing erratically and showing signs of convulsions. He was flushed and perspiring. He felt hot to the touch. I went to the medical locker and got some chemical ice to attempt to bring down his temperature. When I returned we started to cool the employee down. His color was returning to normal at this time.
As I evaluated the man I checked his pulse, it was rapid and weak. While checking his pulse it was evident that he had stopped breathing. I rolled him over and began giving rescue breaths. I had to reposition his head once. On the second breath he began breathing again. We rolled him onto his side again. He was still not responsive but was now breathing again.
About two minutes later he, once again, stopped breathing. I repeated the process and he began to breathe on his own again. This time he began to respond. The fire department arrived about two minutes later and began administering O2. EMS arrived a few minutes later.
EMS took him away about five minutes later. He was responsive and sitting up on his own when he left.
Two points of interest. First, the fire department is about half a mile from the facility and it still took about fifteen minutes for them to arrive. Second, I usually carry my CPR kit with me, but on this occasion I had left it inside. When he stopped breathing, I didn't have time to go back and get it. One of my students, after it was over, said I did everything I had told them to do.
About three weeks later, I received a card in the mail. It said, "David, thanks a lot for everything you did Friday. It means a lot to me to know that there are people out there willing to help others, thanks."
I felt good knowing that, because of my training, I was able to help. I have been a MEDIC FIRST AID Instructor for the last two years.
