The Terre Haute Fire Department recognized several employees of the Terre Haute Casino Resort on Thursday for conducting what is ordinarily their job — lifesaving procedures.
On Dec. 10, shortly after arriving at the casino, Keith Wrightsman mentioned to his spouse Cynthia he wasn’t feeling well. Shortly thereafter, he collapsed, ceased breathing and didn’t register a pulse. The patient’s spouse began chest compressions for a short time before casino staff members took over compression and continued CPR until an automated external defibrillator – or AED – arrived.
Casino team members deployed the AED and delivered a shock to the patient. Because of their swift actions, Wrightsman is alive and well today.
THFD wants people to know that bystander CPR significantly increases a person’s chance of survival from an out of hospital cardiac arrest by providing immediate blood flow to the brain and vital organs, tripling their survival rate compared to not receiving CPR. This is especially effective when performed within the first few moments of cardiac arrest. The sooner the AED is applied, the better the survival rate.
In attendance at the event were members of the Terre Haute Fire Department Administration, THFD firefighters and paramedics who responded to the scene, Terre Haute Casino Resort leadership, staff members who were recognized, and, to the surprise of the Casino Resort heroes, Keith and Cynthia Wrightsman.
Members of the Casino Resort employees who were recognized included:
• Briar Geeseman, who notified security of incident
• John Groover, who was the first on scene and began chest compressions.
• Cory Roberts, second on scene to assist with CPR.
• Kevin Young, who retrieved the AED.
• Linda Christian, who notified 911.
• Matthew Perry, who met THFD and took them to the scene
• Alissa Jensen, the security shift manager who oversaw crowd control
• Wendy Planty, Environmental Services supervisor (crowd control)
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