ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Trained professionals are prepared for any scenario whether it happens within the walls of a hospital or clinic or out in the community; where they may only have their mind as equipment to rely on as a means to save someone's life. On a November afternoon last year one such person was faced with that situation.
When Agnes Towne's neighbors knocked on her door and said there was something wrong with their mother, she immediately sprang into action.
"I arrived at the woman's side and observed that she was having significant respiratory distress," said Mrs. Towne.
Shortly thereafter, the woman stopped breathing. This is where Mrs. Towne's almost 20 years of experience in the medical field, the last three of which she's been a nurse nearby at Malcolm Grow Emergency Room, kicked in.
"I had my husband get an artificial respiratory device, called a BVM, out of my car and then my neighbor's children ran it inside to me," said Mrs. Towne. "A BVM is used to get the proper amount of air to the lungs."
"Before administering ventilation, I checked the woman's pulse and felt nothing. I then immediately called 911 and began chest compressions."
After five to seven minutes of chest compressions and ventilating the woman, the sheriff arrived.
"I told him to run to his car and get an automatic external defibrillator," said Mrs. Towne.
The sheriff ran back inside and placed the machine on the woman's chest. Before the machine was even turned on, the woman's eyes opened. Mrs. Towne proceeded to talk to the woman and take her blood pressure.
The woman was taken by ambulance to the hospital where she was treated. She recovered enough to be allowed to go home and spend Thanksgiving with her family.
About a week after Thanksgiving, Mrs. Towne was home again when her neighbors came back over and informed her that the elderly woman was again experiencing trouble breathing.
Mrs. Towne began ventilating her for several minutes until the ambulance arrived. Unfortunately, the woman wouldn't recover this time. She passed away just four days later.
While the loss of a loved one is always painful, Mrs. Towne's determined efforts did give her neighbors and their family time to spend with their mother.
"She was able to have one last Thanksgiving with those that loved her most, which I feel helped them come to grips with saying goodbye," said Mrs. Towne.
Agnes Towne will receive an award for her actions last November from the Charles County Sheriff's office tonight at 6 p.m. at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Hall.
"Everybody should have some basic training in CPR," said Mrs. Towne. "Rapid recognition that somebody isn't breathing can make the difference between life and death."