I saw a woman save her boyfriend's life on the parking lot pavement yesterday.
I want to honor a woman from yesterday that saved her boyfriend’s life. She was amazing!
I was on my way to my car after shopping and I see an unconscious man on the pavement and a woman giving him CPR. She had stopped her car in the middle of the parking lane and must have pulled him out of the car laying him flat on his back on the pavement. The car doors were open, and the incident blocked any car movement down that lane. She was single minded and only cared about tending to this man. Her young child was in the back seat and she called out to the elder woman with her to please tend to the child.
I have medical training, so I tried to help. I made a quick assessment that it appeared to be a drug overdose. Bystanders told me 911 had been called. I checked his carotid pulse, it was there, but he was not breathing. She kept giving him mouth to mouth and stopped the chest compressions. At some point he started to breath, but you really couldn’t tell. She was sure of it however and stopped the mouth to mouth breathing for him.
I asked the crowd for blankets and a woman hands me two; that was nice of her. We rolled him on his side and used one blanket to protect his head and one to cover his body. Slowly, we can hear raspy breathing, and then an eyelid flutter. The woman tells me she gave him Narcan, that miracle drug that saves people from overdose. She had injected him with the only dose she had. She tells me she is an EMT and this is her boyfriend. I ask her if she is okay and her tears flow, “I thought he was off it, heroine.” He starts to breath deep, his eyes open and he sits up. “I’m okay,” he says. Moments later he is on his feet. Someone hands him a bottle of water and he drinks. Police arrive and the ambulance soon after, but he won’t need them now.
The woman was so calm and deliberate with step by step actions. Her powerful presence of stillness was impressive. She had zero concern for the scene around her. She had a life to save.
I could hear some judgment chatter from the crowd, but most offered silent support and concern. This is a Native American family and the man is in his mid-30’s, very thin, long dark hair, neck tattoos coming up to his face, and well-worn jean clothing.
I tell the woman she was amazing and did a great job. I also say, “You saved his life”. She received the comments with silence and then thanked me for my support. I wish I knew her name, none-the-less, I want to honor this woman for doing such a great job, so I thought I would share it with you here on DU.
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