By Nick West
The News-Sentinel
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Patti Davis said she didn’t really have time to think. It was all reaction.
Davis rushed to 76-year-old Charles Shoppell’s side when she heard from Parks and Recreation Community Center co-workers that he had collapsed while playing cards. Finding his heart wasn’t beating, Davis performed CPR and used an automatic external defibrillator to resuscitate the man.
Firefighters and paramedics arrived within five minutes of the 911 call. Seven minutes after Shoppell collapsed, his heart was beating, he was breathing on his own, and he was responsive because of Davis’ quick and knowledgeable response.
On Thursday morning, more than four months after that frightening yet heroic day May 4, Davis, preschool youth coordinator at the center, was honored by Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry.
“There’s an old saying, ‘Heroes are not born. They’re just ordinary people doing extraordinary things,’” Henry said. “If there was ever a situation for that definition, it was this one.”
Three Rivers Ambulance Authority Executive Director Gary Booher and Parks and Recreation Director and TRAA board member Al Moll attended the ceremony at the Community Center, where Davis was presented with a framed certificate reading, “A life was saved here because someone who works here knew CPR and this facility has an AED.”
After thanking Davis, Booher expressed the importance of every person being trained in CPR. He encouraged people to attend a free, hands-on, CPR training class Oct. 3 at Brookside Church, 6102 Evard Road.
Davis said Parks and Recreation employees are re-certified every year in CPR and AED training.
“You never know when you’re going to need it,” she said.
Shoppell, who suffered sudden cardiac arrest but now feels the healthiest he has in a long time, said he was, “glad (Davis) was here and knew what she was doing.”
Copyright 2009 The News-Sentinel