Kitzhaber leaps into action, saves a woman's life

Kari Chisholm

Earlier today, Governor John Kitzhaber -- an emergency room doctor in his pre-politics days -- jumped from his state vehicle and saved a woman's life.

From KGW:

Kitzhaber was traveling by car through downtown Portland on his way to dinner around 5:00 p.m. when he noticed a woman on the ground with someone trying to help her. He ordered his driver to pull over and instructed his security detail to call paramedics, the Governor's spokesperson confirmed.

The woman was not breathing when Kitzhaber began to perform CPR. Paramedics arrived some minutes later and took over treatment of the patient who may have overdosed on drugs. She was taken to the hospital and is expected to live...

The Oregonian provides some context:

Within two and a half minutes of the call from Kitzhaber's security detail, a firetruck arrived and administered drugs and used a defibrillator to shock the woman and restart her heartbeat, Chatman said. An ambulance arrived 10 to 11 minutes later.

According to Chatman, CPR has to be administered in no less than 6 minutes after a person loses a heartbeat. He called this case rare. Alan Ferschweiler, a paramedic who responded to the call told The Oregonian that the woman “had possibly overdosed” when the governor found her.

Four years ago, a similar incident occurred in the middle of a gubernatorial debate. Back then, in Eugene, Kitzhaber ran into the audience when someone yelled "Is there a doctor in the house?" and administered aid to a man "frothing blood at the mouth, having a real bad seizure".

By Kari Chisholm May 05, 2014