Cottonwood worker saves woman's life with CPR; Red Cross training sessions set for later this month

Good Will on Wheels. That's what Rose Neal's coworkers call her.

Neal, a child psychiatric care supervisor at Cottonwood Residential Treatment Center, has a copy of CPR procedure on the back of her employee ID badge. She didn't need to use it when she administered CPR Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, to a woman walking down Sprigg Street.

"They've changed procedure over the years," Neal said. "This last part came right back to me. You don't get confused."

Neal, a Cape Girardeau resident, is CPR certified and has kept her training up to date for more than two decades. She said she was driving past the new Southeast Parking Garage on Sprigg Street and noticed a lady was having trouble walking even with the assistance of another person. Neal passed by and then "Something just said turn around, so I pulled in and asked if they needed help," she said.

"She kept falling down. We led her away. She was sweating and we were looking for a place to set her down," she said.

Neal asked about the medication she was taking and when she asked her name, all she got was a blank stare. The woman went limp and her lips turned blue. Neal started compressions and breathing.

"I finally got a heart beat but she was not breathing," she said. "Emergency workers got there and gave her oxygen and an IV."

They later found out the woman had a history of seizures and Neal's CPR experience may have helped save her life.

"Everybody can be CPR trained," she said. "It's vitally important. Go to the American Red Cross."

Sheri Brethold, health and safety director American Red Cross Southeast Missouri Chapter, said, CPR does not restart a heart, but it will sustain life until more advanced medical personnel arrive on the scene.

"It can make the difference between life and death," she said.

Neal said she can't count how many times she has used her CPR and first aid training over the years.

"I think when you're trained you feel a little more confident and calm. You automatically know what to do," she said.

"I can't say you don't think of transmitted diseases when you're doing mouth to mouth. But it's secondary to saving somebody's life," she said. "In a medical emergency situation you'd be surprised what you can put out of your mind. I know it's a life-threatening situation and can put my own feelings aside. Helping people is humanitarian. CPR is a training I've been given and I feel I should use it."

Neal said she can't just walk away. She believes God puts people here to help one another.

"This lady -- I can't follow her though life to make sure she takes her medication or stays out of the hot sun, but maybe someone else will get her to do that," Neal said.

"If I can help somebody else out I do. People from work bring me clothes, and I give them to those who need. They call me good will on wheels," Neal said. She explained that her experiences in life of people coming into her life and providing the hope she needed, give her a reason to save lives and help other people. She said she doesn't go out searching for people to help, but when they come across her path she acts upon their needs.

Upcoming Red Cross training will be from 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15; 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 28. For more information call 335-9471.

cpagano@semissourian.com

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