by Christopher Martin, BFD PIO
Leigha Walker, an 18-year-old senior at Holley High School, was working at Subway on Brockport-Spencerport Road in Brockport the morning of Sunday, June 9, when she heard a loud noise outside. Looking out, she discovered a vehicle had run into their building.
Walker immediately dialed 9-1-1 and went out front with three others from the store. They noticed an 67-year-old male slumped over the wheel with locked doors. The four of them worked to break the glass and assist the male from the vehicle. He was reportedly barely breathing with a weak pulse as they lowered him to the ground.
While all this was happening, first responders had been alerted and were on their way to the scene. Walker, who had been certified in CPR just last year, jumped into action and started compressions. At about the same time, Brockport FD Deputy Chief Tim Smith pulled up in his Chief’s vehicle with a Brockport Police Officer simultaneously. They brought an AED from the Police vehicle to the patient. The AED called for two shocks to be administered, which responders did prior to Monroe Ambulance arriving on scene. According to fire department records, the first shock was administered just six minutes after firefighters and EMTs were summoned. Monroe Ambulance transported the patient to Strong Memorial Hospital with two firefighters on board assisting.
While interviewing her for this story, Leigha wanted to convey two things. One, when she took her CPR training, she never expected to have to use it, though she was glad to have the certification when she needed it. Secondly, when she was released from her duties doing compressions, she was relieved to find she had not burned the fresh baked bread in the oven. Leigha is an honors student and three-sport varsity athlete.
The Brockport Fire District is pleased to report this as another instance of many hands and agencies coming together to contribute to the saving of a life of another. The driver of the truck was revived and is alive to spend another day with us all.
