Carson City Starbucks employees presented with Lifesaving Award for using CPR on customer
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 06/24/2021 - 12:47pm
The Carson City Fire Department recently presented local Starbucks employees Nicole Cisneros, Andrew Tuell, Allison Galloway, Brittany Stanley, and Alicia Allen with the Lifesaving Award for their extraordinary and cautionary diligence in performing lifesaving intervention while responders were en-route.
On May 12, 2021 Dispatch received an emergency medical call from the North Carson Street Starbucks by the employees who witnessed a customer losing consciousness and becoming unresponsive, with prompt instructions from the Dispatcher they immediately began providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Without prior formal training the Starbucks employees performed the lifesaving procedure flawlessly.
Upon arrival, Engine 52 and Rescue 52 crew immediately recognized the extraordinary effort each of them made to preserve the patient’s brain function until further measures could be taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing. By providing continuous chest compressions and regulated artificial air ventilation the Starbucks employees contributed to the patient’s survival.
Firefighter/Paramedics began deploying the AutoPulse device which performs perfect CPR with no interruptions. Firefighter/Paramedic Johnathan Wielkie stated while recalling the incident, “At one point I called to the crew for ‘a sugar’ and one of the employees on scene replied ‘I have sugar!’ and was happy to help with what she understood as a request for sweetener. The term ‘sugar’ is our terminology to ask a crew member to obtain a blood glucose level. This employee’s willingness to help, although misunderstood, helped ease the overlying tension in the building.”
The Starbucks employees continued to watch what may have seemed as chaotic, after several interventions, Firefighter/Paramedics obtained return of spontaneous circulation and transported the patient to the hospital. Crews arrived at the hospital and the patient had a heartbeat, good blood pressure, and excellent oxygenation. The patient was sent to ICU to recover and later discharged.
It is a rare occurrence when Carson City Dispatchers must instruct 9-1-1 callers to provide CPR, and without hesitation Nicole Cisneros, Andrew Tuell, Allison Galloway, Brittany Stanley, and Alicia Allen stepped into a role they never anticipated. Carson City Fire Department’s responders reported that on their arrival they observed those involved performing CPR very well — in fact, thought they might have received previous training. In part, these employees were the first responders and deserve community recognition for their heroic efforts.
