December 2023
Caleb
Giles
,
RN
Emergency Department
UAB Hospital
Birmingham
,
AL
United States
Caleb had passed the cars pulled over and saw just the lone police officer doing chest compressions. The patient had stopped breathing in the car, and the family pulled over and called 911.
Recently, Caleb and I walked to our cars together after work, as we usually do. Around 7:45 p.m., on our separate drives home in opposite directions on I-65, Caleb and I were in the middle of a deep and thoughtful conversation regarding how to improve the patient care and experience at UAB Hospital Emergency Department, when Caleb suddenly said, “Oh my goodness, they are doing CPR on the side of the interstate! I’ve got to help.” Without hesitation and full of concern for a random person in medical need, Caleb pulled to the side of the interstate and stated, “I’ll call you back.” I said, “Okay,” hung up, and then called his wife so that she was aware of what was happening. Caleb is a true healthcare hero.
***
Last night, while I was driving home, I noticed a police car with multiple cars pulled over. Upon passing the cars, I noticed someone doing chest compressions on the side of the interstate. That person turned out to be Caleb! Caleb had passed the cars pulled over and saw just the lone police officer doing chest compressions. The patient had stopped breathing in the car, and the family pulled over and called 911. While swapping between compressions, Caleb, along with a doctor who pulled over, performed a jaw thrust, and the patient took their first breath on their own. Another life saved!
***
Last night, while I was driving home, I noticed a police car with multiple cars pulled over. Upon passing the cars, I noticed someone doing chest compressions on the side of the interstate. That person turned out to be Caleb! Caleb had passed the cars pulled over and saw just the lone police officer doing chest compressions. The patient had stopped breathing in the car, and the family pulled over and called 911. While swapping between compressions, Caleb, along with a doctor who pulled over, performed a jaw thrust, and the patient took their first breath on their own. Another life saved!