April 30, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2411, page: 675-2137

Life Saved at Wal-Mart called "Wonderful . . . Impressive" by Store Management

Wal-Mart store management said the actions Monday by Shreveport firefighters to save the life of a customer suffering from a cardiac arrest were "Wonderful to witness" and "Very impressive . . . "

Fire Department Assistant Chief Terry Lewis and Inspector Chris Robinson visiting the store on an errand, had just entered the Bert Kouns/Youree Drive store when a customer and then a store employee ran up to them and said that someone was passed out at one of the check-out lines. The pair rushed over to the check-out stand to find Kenneth Miles, 53, of Shreveport not breathing and without a pulse.

As Lewis assessed Miles, an unidentified customer started chest compressions and Robinson rushed back out to his car to retrieve his medical kit. Once back inside, Robinson was able to take control of Miles’ airway and breath for the man, start an IV and administer life saving cardiac drugs. Firefighters Richard Lane, Michael Fredieu, Floyd Seamster, Jevonnie Rutledge, and Captain Mike Lawson from the department’s Ellerbe Road and E. 70^th Street Stations arrived and worked together to save Miles’ life, providing further medical treatment, including a shock to his heart. Following the shock, continued CPR and more drug therapy, much to the delight of the crowd that had now gathered around the incident, Miles regained a pulse and began breathing on his own. He was transported to Willis Knighton Pierremont where he is currently recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

"The firefighters were great! . . . It was a total team effort and was like each firefighter knew what the other was doing or needed, said Wal-Mart Assistant Manager Lesley Altmannberger." Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran praised the actions of the firefighters as "what they do everyday but not usually in a public forum." Cochran would also like to commend the citizen who assisted at the beginning of the incident. Anyone with knowledge as to the identity of the citizen can contact the fire department at 673-6650.

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