Seconds can seem like hours when it comes to saving a life and almost a year to the day after Susan Baelum helped save her friend’s life the Glenview woman was honored with a “Life Saving Award” from the village.
“There were many heroes that night and they’re all in the room tonight,” Glenview, Public Safety Support Services Director, Brent Reynolds, said during the presentation at an Oct. 17 meeting of the Glenview Village Board.
“In over thirty years this is only my fifth time to be able to present to a board a story like this,” he said. “It’s quite an honor.”
On Oct. 18, 2022, Glenview’s 911 center received an urgent call from Baelum who told a dispatcher her friend, Andy Davis, was having a seizure, couldn’t breathe and needed immediate medical immediate attention.
Glenview 911 supervisor Neva Hankins was the dispatcher on the other end of that fateful 911 call. She pressed Baelum for information as an ambulance and police raced to Susan Baelum’s Pine Street address, Reynolds said.
In the race between life and death “time” is everything, and that’s when Baelum and Hankins sprang into action.
“The patient needed CPR and needed it fast,” said Reynolds.
Baelum told Hankins what was happening. Hankins, a trained medical professional, realized Davis may have been in “cardiac arrest” and instructed her how to perform life saving CPR.
Hankins and Baelum counted out loud together as Baelum began CPR on Davis until rescue arrived and took over. Davis had a pulse when paramedics arrived. He was rushed to hospital and made it.
“Many things went right that evening,” said Reynolds. He also said Hankins, responding paramedics, police and hospital workers all deserve credit for their decisive life saving actions that momentous evening.
Baelum was presented with a certificate in recognition of her quick thinking and “outstanding effort during an emergency medical call.” Davis was also at the meeting.
“Your actions helped save a life,” Reynolds said.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.