OMHC employee responds in Moses Lake emergency

Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center employee Karen Carlson had just finished an all-day CPR training session when she had the opportunity to put what she had learned into practice.

While eating at a restaurant in Moses Lake, Carlson heard someone choking behind her. The man’s wife was attempting to perform the Heimlich maneuver, but the man collapsed to the floor.

Carlson was able to give him chest compressions, and perform a finger sweep of his mouth, after which, she said, he was breathing.

Carlson said, “I just want to acknowledge the training I received, and want to encourage others to take advantage of it.”

The training is mandatory for all employees at Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center, and is provided to them at no charge. Carlson is currently employed in the nutrition department at OMHC, where she has worked for approximately 10 years.

This is Carlson’s second opportunitiy to respond in an emergency. She performed CPR on a heart attack victim a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, she was unable to revive the victim in that instance.

Carlson said that she didn’t even think about her response until she was on her way home after the incident.