What began as a casual lunch out with her mother-in-law last month took a scary turn for Jessica Smith, a nurse practitioner at East Georgia Womens Center, and others in the restaurant. Smith's mother-in-law noticed that another diner had begun choking across the room, and seeing the man in distress, Smith's medical training and instincts quickly kicked in.
"I immediately ran over," Smith shared. "I realized that the man was completely unresponsive and not breathing. I guess that’s when my instincts and training kicked in, and I started CPR. I didn’t think about doing CPR while I was doing it; I just went into autopilot. I didn’t think about the steps, the counts -- you just automatically do it."
"I just knew the man needed my help, and I did what I knew to do," Smith said. "Even though I have been trained in using CPR, actually having to use it on someone is shocking and traumatic, and I definitely had a lot of emotions to process after."
While her actions were certainly heroic, Smith is humble and says she didn't do what she did for recognition. In fact, this experience is not something she shared with us herself; instead, we had a reader reach out to say they had witnessed Smith's lifesaving actions, and they wondered if we might be able to find her and thank her.
When we talked to Smith about that day, her message was loud and clear: get your CPR training!
According to the American Heart Association, CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an essential step in the "chain of survival" because "keeping the blood flow active – even partially – extends the opportunity for a successful resuscitation once trained medical staff arrive on site." Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest.
"I want everyone to know how important CPR training can be and that it saves lives," she said. "You may think you will never need it or use it, and so did I. I hope this story encourages more people to get CPR training in the community. I hope it leads to a positive ripple effect that can lead to more lives being saved in the future."
In fact, the incident had its own immediate ripple effect right in the office where Jessica works.
"Dr. Palmer and I are both so proud of Jessica," Debbie Palmer, office manager at East Georgia Womens Center said. "We were not surprised that she didn't hesitate to help someone in need. This is who she is. The next thing I thought about was renewal CPR instruction for our staff. The date was quickly set thanks to Bob Olliff at Ogeechee Tech."
As a healthcare provider, Smith has been trained in CPR for a long time, but she wants the community to know that any and everybody can and should be trained.
"CPR is a life-saving skill that can be used in a variety of settings, from public places to your own home," she shared. "Knowing what to do can help you stay calm and provide crucial assistance until help arrives." Training, she says, is convenient and available both in person and online.
Should the need ever arise, Smith says it's also important to check in on the person who performed CPR.
"If someone you know has performed CPR, ask them how they’re feeling. Listen to what they’re telling you and give them an opportunity to express everything they need to," she said. "Even medical professionals with years of training can be affected. This is understandable, and it’s important to look after yourself. Speaking to people like friends and family may help, but you may also need to talk to someone professional to help you process what happened."
Smith's CPR training was truly a matter of life and death on that day in the restaurant, and she encourages others to be prepared -- even though she hopes they never have to use that training.
"To anyone reading this, please attend CPR training if you can; there’s nothing to lose," she said. "If someone needs CPR, then trying is better than not being able to do anything. That person could die if you don’t do anything, and if you try, then you could save a life."
Smith says she hopes the man and his family are doing well; she keeps them in her prayers and hopes to one day reconnect with them.
For more information on how you can get CPR training for yourself, your family, your civic organization, or your workplace, check out the local resources below.