UPDATED STORY: When an 83-year-old De Soto man experienced a medical emergency at the Imo’s Pizza restaurant, 1176 E. Gannon Drive, in Festus on the morning of Nov. 13, employee Britne Howard jumped in to help.
Amanda Johnston of Arnold said the man Howard assisted was her great uncle, Danny Nephew, who died the afternoon of Nov. 15 at a hospital after sustaining a brain injury from his fall after having a heart attack at the Imo’s restaurant.
Even so, Johnston said her family is grateful to Howard for trying to save her great uncle.
Howard, 39, of Crystal City, a driver-manager for the business, performed CPR on Nephew until paramedics arrived and took over.
“He was right in front of the soda machine. I was in the right place at the right time,” she said. “I actually switched shifts with a guy, so I was at work early.”
Howard said she was certified in CPR years ago while working at another job.
“I worked at Autumn Ridge (retirement community in Herculaneum) for 11 years as a medical technician and never did CPR,” she said. “I got my CPR training from Autumn Ridge.
“My training was 10 years out of date, but I still helped the man.”
She said she recalled important aspects of her CPR training.
“I remember you did have to do CPR to the song ‘Stayin Alive,’” she said. “We have video cameras and I saw I did CPR for about eight minutes.
“I knew he needed something. I kept him going. Paramedics said he had a pulse when they got here, and I was the reason.”
Howard said she did not know what happened to the man after Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District (JPAD) personnel transported him to a hospital.
“My heart goes out to the family,” she said.
“Most definitely, we appreciate what Britne did for my great uncle,” Johnston said Tuesday. “He did not regain consciousness after hitting his head.
“My grandma and aunt were with him from the time it happened to the time he passed. I know my grandma is thankful that it happened where it happened and someone could give him CPR.”
Howard said she is proud of her response to the emergency.
“Afterward, it was very overwhelming,” she said. “I had to take a breath. In my heart, I know I did the right thing. I’m happy I gave the family time to see him again. I’m glad I did it.”
Mark Puricelli, owner of the Festus Imo’s, praised Howard for her actions.
“She is a rock star,” Puricelli said. “We’re just so happy she stepped in and did what she could to help.”
Kenny Strathmann, the JPAD deputy chief, said government regulations restrict what health information the agency can release about an individual patient but confirmed that the ambulance district responded to a call about a person’s health issue the morning of Nov. 13 at the Festus Imo’s Pizza restaurant.
“A gentleman received CPR and was transported to a hospital,” Strathmann said.
He encourage everyone to learn CPR.
“Public education and application of CPR is vital for people who experience cardiac arrest in public or private areas,” he said.
Howard agreed.
“Please get CPR training,” she said.
ORIGINAL STORY: When a patron of the Imo’s Pizza restaurant, 1176 E. Gannon Drive, Festus experienced a medical issue on Nov. 13, employee Britne Howard responded.
Howard, a driver-manager for the business, performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man until paramedics arrived and took over his treatment. She described the patron as “an elderly man.”
“It was Wednesday at 11:07 a.m.,” she said. “He was right in front of the soda machine. I was in the right place at the right time. I actually switched shifts with a guy, so I was at work early.”
Howard said she certified in CPR years ago while working at another job.
“I worked at Autumn Ridge (retirement community in Herculaneum) for 11 years as a medical technician and never did CPR,” she said. “I got my CPR training from Autumn Ridge.
“My training was 10 years out of date, but I still helped the man.”
She said she recalled important aspects of her CPR training.
“I remember you did have to do CPR to the song ‘Stayin Alive,’” she said. “It was hard to remember that. We have video cameras and I saw I did CPR for about eight minutes.
“I knew he needed something. I kept him going. Paramedics said he had a pulse when they got here and I was the reason.”
Howard said she does not know what happened to the man after Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District (JPAD) personnel transported him to a hospital.
“My heart goes out to the family,” she said.
She said she feels satisfaction in reacting quickly to the emergency.
“Afterward, it was very overwhelming,” said Howard, 39, of Crystal City. “I had to take a breath. In my heart, I know I did the right thing. I’m happy I gave the family time to see him again. I’m glad I did it.”
Mark Puricelli, owner of the Festus Imo’s Pizza restaurant, praised Howard for her actions.
“She is a rock star,” Puricelli said. “We’re just so happy she stepped in and did what she could to help.”
Kenny Strathmann, the JPAD deputy chief, said government regulations restrict what health information could be given out in regard to an individual, but confirmed his agency responded to a call on a person’s health issue the morning of Nov. 13 at the Festus Imo’s Pizza restaurant.
“A gentleman received CPR and was transported to a hospital,” Strathmann said.
While not speaking to the incident, he encouraged everyone to learn CPR.
“Public education and application of CPR is vital for people who experience cardiac arrest in public or private areas,” he said.
Howard seconded Strathmann’s statement.
“Please get CPR training,” she said.
