According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 2015 statistics show there were 326,200 out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), 45.9% received bystander CPR and there was only a 10.6% survival rate.
I was charge nurse on the evening shift one day in May in the Wilmington Emergency Department. The triage clerk called me and informed me there was a patient in the lobby needing CPR. I notified the doctor and we immediately went upstairs to the first-floor lobby. Upon arrival, we did not see a patient. A young man pointed outside where the patient was laying (overhead emergency 911 was activated). Upon approaching the patient, we found a nurse, Kim Balogun, performing CPR on the young lady on the ground in the rain. Kim had pulled the young lady out of the car lowered her to the ground and immediately began one person CPR. With the help of security and other medical staff, she was placed on the stretcher and en route to the Emergency Department, Kim continued chest compressions by way of straddling the patient on the stretcher. The CPR continued upon arrival to the ED. The patient remained in pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and after rounds of life-saving medications, and continued effective CPR, the 22-year-old patient had return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and was transferred to the ICU for continued expert care.
I honestly believe that due to Kim being the first responder to the scene (OHCA) and using her knowledge of rapid recognition of cardiac arrest and prompt provision of CPR, the outcome may not have been as favorable. Kim, as the first responder, helped save this patient's life that evening.
In the words of my manager, "Kim, you are a wonderful ED nurse but really, a wonderful humanitarian. Some may have waited for help, a stretcher, to get out of the rain. You dove right in, realizing that every second of delay of CPR decreased the chance of ROSC. Please take pride in this, realize your gifts and how powerful you are! We are grateful to have you on our team!"