May 26, 2017
By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer
Lifesaving lessons taught at Roane State’s Center for Health Sciences were put to the test in an emergency recently at the Y-12 National Security Complex. For one particular Y-12 worker, those lessons lived up to their name.
Four graduates of Roane State’s Paramedic Program who are now members of Y-12’s Fire Department – Eddie Johnson, Brad Holt, Loyd Williams and Rick Dettmering – revived the woman whose heart had stopped again after she was initially revived.
Freida Williford, a radiation control technician at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant, had the first of three heart attacks while on her way to lunch with coworkers, according to the plant’s public relations department. The incident occurred late last year.
A security police officer was summoned after Williford collapsed onto the floor of a van while she and coworkers were on their way to lunch.
The officer determined the victim’s airway was blocked, reopened it, and compressed her chest several times.
Minutes later, Williford’s heart stopped again while she was being taken to the hospital, and the firefighters took turns administering CPR.
During a 24-hour period, Williford survived an aneurysm, a stroke, a heart attack and three cardiac arrests, and also underwent brain surgery, according to Y-12’s PR Department.
“The quick actions and response from (security police officer) Joe Perian and the fire/EMS response increased her chances of survival,” Y-12 Fire Chief Scott Vowell is quoted as saying in a Y-12 news release.
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