KAILUA-KONA — Off-duty Kona Community Hospital (KCH) nurse, Jill Okumura, RN was lauded recently for her quick actions to save a man’s life on May 20 during a medical emergency at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — Off-duty Kona
KAILUA-KONA — Off-duty Kona Community Hospital Registerd Nurse Jill Okumura was lauded recently for her quick actions to save a man’s life on May 20 during a medical emergency at O’Hare Airport in Chicago.
Okumura, who was returning to Kona following a mainland visit, was waiting in line to board a flight when the passenger in line behind her collapsed. Okumura quickly responded by checking the man’s pulse. Finding him unresponsive and pulseless, she began CPR and asked her husband to ask for an Automated External Defibrillator.
Okumura, an emergency department nurse at Kona Community Hospital, performed chest compressions for about four minutes until she was able to use an AED. The gentleman’s pulse returned and he regained responsiveness after one shock from the AED. Okumura remained with her fellow passenger until the Chicago Fire Department arrived to transport him to a hospital.
Okumura said she simply responded by using her training and skills.
“I guess I was in the right place at the right time,” she said in a press release Monday recognizing her actions.
Representatives with the Chicago Heartsave Program commended Okumura in a letter.
“She represented the nursing and medical field, in the most positive light. She demonstrated what being a nurse is all about,” the letter read. “She gave this gentleman his best and only chance of surviving.”
Rich McDowell, MD, KCH medical director, said Okumura made the entire hospital proud.
“This is an amazing story,” he said. “Jill is a very talented ED nurse, and we’re all very proud of her.”
