By Michael Neary
Idaho Falls
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — When Liz Henry realized someone’s life was in danger, she eliminated the clutter from her mind.
“The whole time I was thinking, ‘I just need to do these few things until EMS (emergency medical services) arrives,” she said. For her quick thinking in a recent emergency, Henry received recognition from Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman and members of the Idaho Falls City Council on Thursday night.
Henry, an intensive-care nurse at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, was exercising at Apple Athletic Club a little before 9 p.m. Jan. 13. She noticed a wave of people moving to another part of the gym and darted over to see why.
She saw a man lying on his back between two exercise machines. A woman was taking his pulse, and Henry knew someone had already dialed 911.
Henry quickly noticed a number of things. The man’s eyes weren’t focused, his arms and legs were making “small, jerky movements” and his skin had turned a pale and purplish color.
“I knew that he wasn’t breathing well, and I knew that his heart was not pumping efficiently throughout his body,” she said.
Trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Henry began administering chest compressions. She also called for an automated external defibrillator, which the club’s staff provided.
Within about two minutes, police arrived and continued the treatment, said Knut K. Meyerin, city of Idaho Falls public information officer. And within about five minutes, paramedics had arrived, Meyerin said.
The man recovered.
“People do extraordinary things when they’re put on the spot,” Meyerin said.
For Henry, one key message from the experience is that familiarity with CPR can be lifesaving.
“At least take (a course) once and get the mechanics,” she said.
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