A driver has been named a Highway Angel after attempting to save a fellow trucker’s life by using CPR to keep him alive until emergency response crews arrived.
Mark McConachie, a trucker from Illinois was waiting for his load while talking to a fellow driver. He noticed that the other man started to lean against a steel beam. Recognizing that something was wrong, McConachie asked the man several times if he was alright, but got no response.
When the man fell to the ground, McConachie yelled for help, checked to see if he was breathing, and immediately started CPR. He performed CPR and kept the man alive until EMTs arrived and loaded him into the ambulance.
Sadly, the other trucker passed away at the hospital, but McConachie has been praised for jumping into action to help a stranger.
Incidents such as this also shed a light on how important it is to know how to perform life-saving maneuvers like CPR. McConachie had learned how to administer CPR during his time in the U.S. Army, but only about 30% of Americans know how.
According to The American Heart Association, 383,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur every year in the US. If CPR is performed immediately by a bystander, the chance of survival can double or triple. Most shockingly, since 88% of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur at home, if you know CPR, the person you’re most likely to save is a family member.
If you don’t have time for a class – which is the most effective way to learn to perform CPR – you can view a quick video on the American Heart Associate website here.
Source: truckinginfo, maverickontheroad, thetrucker, truckload, heartassociation
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