2014 Nominee – Sue Hostler
Survivor Robert Hallinan, Philadelphia, PA – 25 at time of event (2013)
Location of event – Airport
My name is Robert Hallinan, a 25-year-old sudden cardiac arrest survivor. I would like to nominate my savior, Sue Hostler, for the "People Saving People" Award.
On August 22, 2013 at 3:04 pm, I entered an elevator in terminal F of the Philadelphia International Airport. Sue witnessed this as she was running to catch the elevator with me. The doors closed and she waited for the elevator to return. To Sue's surprise, when the elevator door opened I lay there face down and unconscious. Sue immediately called 911 and summoned help from a passerby to turn my lifeless body over. She determined that I was not breathing and did not have a pulse present, so she initiated CPR. Sue would do CPR by herself for the next 17 minutes until the fire department ambulance arrived. Upon arrival the EMS crew delivered two shocks via an AED before transporting me to the hospital.
I credit my survival solely to Sue Hostler and feel strongly that I would not be here today had it not been for her quick and calm actions that afternoon. Sue is my guardian angel and I owe my life to her. She deserves to be recognized as a hero for her performance.
Please also see the following link from the Journal of EMS (JEMS) magazine article, highlighting my case: http://m.jems.com/article/case-month/prolonged-bystander-cpr-makes-difference
Nominated by Robert Hallinan