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American Red Cross Honors
Airport Employees For Life-Saving Efforts
Workers' quick
actions revived stricken man; CPR-AED trainer also recognized
Philadelphia - Two
Philadelphia International Airport employees will receive Certificates of
Merit, the highest honor the American Red Cross bestows upon individuals for
using their skills and training to attempt to save a person's life, from the
American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter for their heroic actions
in restoring vital signs and saving the life of a 70-year-old male found laying
in a parking lot on February 8th.
Airport Operations Officer LaTeesha
Swann and Airport Maintenance Coordinator John Litchfield will each be
presented with Certificates of Merit, which are signed by the President of the
United States, at the Red Cross HELP CAN'T WAIT AWARDS on March 28th. Swann and
Litchfield will receive the awards for being involved in an AED (Automated
External Defibrillator) SAVE and having completed Red Cross CPR
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED training.
George Thompson, the
Airport's certified CPR/AED trainer, will also be recognized by the Red Cross
at the HELP CAN'T WAIT AWARDS. The Airport is a past recipient of a "Help Can't
Wait" award for its implementation of the AED program and the dozen lives it
has saved since 2001.
"John and LaTeesha acted quickly and responsibly
to aid a fellow human being in distress," acknowledged Charles Isdell, the
City's Acting Director of Aviation. "Both employees had previously received CPR
and AED training at the Airport, and they deserve accolades for their actions."
Litchfield and Swann, on their way to work about 3:30 p.m. on February
8th, came upon the man who was breathing faintly and unresponsive in a parking
lot of the Central Utilities Building between Terminals A-East and B on the
Arrivals Road. While the man's nephew called 911, Swann called in a medical
emergency to the Airport's Communications Center. Operator Rebecca Becerril
dispatched the "Code Yellow" to emergency responders including Airport
Operations, Engine 69 and Medic 19.
Swann ran into the B baggage area
to retrieve one of the Airport's public access AEDs. Litchfield removed the
patient's jacket and shirt and he and Swann applied the AED pads. Following
instructions given by the device, two shocks were administered as well as CPR.
According to the electronic cardiogram heart rhythm analysis report
taken from the AED internal card, the patient's heart rhythm showed marked
improvement from pre to post shock analysis. When medics transported the
patient to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, the individual had a pulse and was
breathing but was unresponsive. The Airport has since confirmed that the
patient did survive.
Clearly, Litchfield's and Swann's heroic actions
enhanced the patient's chances of survival.
"The Red Cross is proud to
honor these individuals for their quick actions in using their CPR-AED training
to save a life," said Tom Foley, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red
Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter. "John and LaTeesha are an inspiration
to all who promote CPR and AED education and we encourage those who aren't
certified to take part in training so they, too, may be able to save a life
someday."
The Philadelphia Airport System is owned and operated by the City of
Philadelphia and is composed of Philadelphia International Airport and
Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The Airport System is a self-sustaining entity
that operates without the use of local tax dollars. It is one of the largest
economic engines in Pennsylvania, generating an estimated $14 billion in
spending to the regional economy and employing a workforce of nearly
34,000.
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