Western State Hospital Security Officer saves nurse after medical episode
A medical episode at a Western State Hospital screening station became a matter of life and death in the matter of seconds.
The actions of Security Officer Carl Trent made all the difference.
On Jan. 31, a nurse at the screening station began gasping for air and gesturing that she was choking. Trent sprang into action, performing life-saving measures until medical help arrived.
“I came from around that counter and started giving her the Heimlich maneuver trying to get her back,” Trent said. “She went limp on me. I was losing her, but I kept doing what I was doing and she started breathing again.”
The moment was personal for Trent, who has known the nurse for years because she is good friends with his wife Quenasta, who worked at Western for 33 years.
“She and my wife worked together for a long time,” Trent said. “This is a friend to me. I used to watch out for her when I got called to her ward.”
Trent said he would have reacted in the same way no matter who was facing an emergency situation.
“I just like to help people,” he said. “I would do it for anybody.”
The nurse suffered from a coronary blockage and went to the hospital after receiving immediate medical attention from Medical Nurse Consultants Jeff Hathey, Jean Hagel and Bea Tannagan.
“The MNCs showed up with patrol, which was good because if I didn’t get response from her I was going to get her down and to get to work with the defibrillator,” Trent said.
Trent said he saw the woman a week after the incident and that is doing well.
“She was crying, hugging me and thanking me for saving her life,” he said.
Director of Security Mike Douglas called Trent “a credit to the security department at WSH.”
“His actions are celebrated along with the positive outcome for the staff member involved,” Douglas said.
Trent has worked at Western State Hospital for 15 years and became a security officer in 2016. He said the incident was among the more “scary and exhilarating” moments of his career.
“I’m just glad that she’s OK,” he said. “I would not hesitate to do that for anyone.”