On January 8th, members of the Sherwood Dog Training Club met for their monthly meeting at the Village Inn – Bridgeport Village and it was like any other of their regular gatherings. Members of the club would share success stories and challenges in topics including obedience training and club goals. It was of great surprise when a stranger entered the restaurant lobby shortly before 8:00pm and asked for an aspirin stating he thought his wife might be having a heart attack. Without hesitation, Jill Miller, club board member and registered nurse, went into action. Bolstered by her years of training and patient care, she asked an employee to call 9-1-1 and proceeded to the patient seated in a car in the parking lot. Nurse Miller began performing CPR until the crew from Station 34 and Metro West Ambulance arrived. Once the TVF&R and Metro West crews arrived, they took over patient care and delivered critical life-saving advanced life support measures.
Jill’s quick action to provide CPR jumpstarted the chain of survival and helped significantly increase the chance of survivability for the patient. A victim’s chances of survival decreases 10% each minute without CPR from the time of arrest and 4-6 minutes without oxygen to the heart could cause irreversible damage. From Jill’s CPR on the patient to the advanced medical care provided by the fire and ambulance crews to the ER staff and physicians at Legacy Meridian Park Hospital, the patient survived this cardiac arrest.
On Tuesday, February 11th, Jill Miller was recognized by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Tualatin Police in a ceremony where it all happened at the Village Inn restaurant. With her husband by her side, Jill was presented with a certificate of recognition for providing lifesaving bystander CPR. She was then presented with fire service and police coins – made from various metals and alloys, these coins symbolize strength and resilience and represent fellowship, pride, and respect. The coin is presented to civilians for acts of selflessness and courage above and beyond the call of duty.
After the ceremony, Jill was humbled and thankful. Her passion for CPR remains steadfast as she encouraged all members of the club to learn Hands Only CPR – hard and fast chest compressions that does not require rescue breathing – in case this situation were to ever happen again. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is proud to recognize Jill Miller and thank her for demonstrating citizen engagement that can save a life.
Read more of the story at KXL News: http://kxl.com/2014/02/11/nurse-saves-dying-woman-called-hero/
###