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Kathie Winkler answers a lot of phone calls at Ivy Tech Community College. But the one she answered on March 31st was like no other.
The call sent Winkler running down the hall to the side of Jamie
Swonder Whitledge, who was sitting on the floor complaining of tremendous head pain.
“The next thing I knew, she quit breathing,” Winkler said. “There wasn’t time to think. I just started CPR.”
Alan Ripplemeier, director of facilities at Ivy Tech, heard what was going on. When he arrived at the scene, Swonder Whitledge was unconscious and Winkler was performing CPR.
“I asked Kathie if she wanted me to take over and she said yes,” Ripplemeier said.
The facilities staff at Ivy Tech, including Winkler and Ripplemeier, are certified in CPR by the Red Cross. As the go-to people for first aid, they’ve seen it all when it comes to minor injuries.
But Winkler and Ripplemeier said nothing came close to what they had to do to help Swonder Whitledge.
“You never really think you’re going to get into that situation,” Ripplemeier said.
Swonder Whitledge was in grave condition when paramedics arrived. Thanks to Winkler and Ripplemeier’s quick respnse, Swonder Whitledge is now at home recovering with family.
“We’re very pleased Jamie is doing so well and they were so willing and quick to respond,” Ivy Tech Chacellor Dan Schenk said. “They responded on instinct. Both were surprisingly calm.”
Winkler and Ripplemeier both say they just did what they knew they had to do. Without their CPR training from the Red Cross, they say they would not have known what to do.
“Even if you don’t get into the situation we did, it’s a good training to have,” Ripplemeier said. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
Alan Ripplemeier and Kathie Winkler