So I just got off from another long day of work teaching both youth and
adult sailing lessons at the Marina today, my summer Job in Reno Nevada
2009, and I headed over to the local Chevron station to grab a cool drink.
On my way In I see these two nice people, well dressed, sitting in the grass
with a sign and a guitar. The sign read "$20 to get us to Truckee". I pulled
my VW Bus into a parking spot and walked over to engage these nice young and
surprisingly well dressed transients. Upon talking to them I stated "Well I
don't have much money, so I can't help you to Truckee, but I thought i'd
offer to buy you guys a cool drink, if that would help?". We got to talking
and they said they were actually offering $20 for someone to drive them just
over the border to Truckee, as I guess the cops in Nevada hate hitching
rides while California is cool with it. They've been transient for 4 years
now, from New Jersey, playing guitar along the way to get by! Well I was
talking with them, and an older gentleman whom I later found out was 65
years old comes walking over and says something softly. I said to him
"What's that I can't hear you?" as he grasps his chest and gives a breath
asking to call 911!

Sure enough I bust out my trusty Cellular Phone and start dialing the
numbers. I got some voice message and static, It didn't seem as If i were
talking to anyone, so I ran inside the building instead. I get inside
(Leaving Philip, the 65 year old heart attack victim, with the young couple)
while I grabbed their phone. I spoke with the gentleman clerk and asked to
borrow his phone to call 911, as a man was having trouble in their parking
lot. I talked with 911 which had dispatched paramedics as I ran back out to
see our man, at this point sitting on the curb having an awful lot of
trouble breathing. We pulled out some paper and started writing down
everything He said As we asked him a series of questions. We got a list of
his current medications compiled, his past ailments, his name, etc while he
drifted off and had further trouble breathing. He said he had open heart
surgery years ago, had a history of chronic heart failure, and had just
taken 3 "Nitros". His heart was definitely fibrillating based on his pulse,
it was erratic and strange. By the time the fire department, followed
closely by an ambulance arrived, he was in poor shape. I asked the Gas
station attendant for an AED or even just a mouth barrier should I need to
start CPR, but these words seemed very foreign to them.... yet they spoke
perfect english.

The Paramedics took Philip away on a stretcher, after hooking him up to an
AED and providing him with Oxygen. I do hope all is well with him. They
arrived promptly and were top notch. It pays to have first aid training, and
be in the right place at the right time!

I stopped to help to transients with a cold beverage, and ended up helping a
man with a failing heart.

When I went into the store to purchase said beverages for my new friends,
the gentleman clerk praised me with many graces, wished God's blessings upon
myself and my family, and wished me a wonderful day. Safe travels were
awarded too, and from, the transient couple.

What a way to end a long day!

Things would have been all that much less worrisome if I had a good firstaid
kit in my Vanagon. Be sure to get a mouth barrier device, should you ever
need to do CPR (and they are currently teaching just chest compressions
though....).

Good day to all!

-Craig

'85GL turned WESTY

BOSTIG in the back