Parkland city officials recognized a woman Wednesday for saving a man's life. The near-death incident took place at the Parkland Equestrian Center. A trainer saved a student's life simply because she knew CPR.
It was a life-saving commendation for Good Samaritan Meghan Green after she saved 66-year-old Richard Appin.
"Without the very important breathe she shared with me, I wouldn't be standing here in front of you," Appin expressed.
After jumping lessons at the Pine Hollow Equestrian Center in January, Appin stepped off his horse, sat down in a chair, slumped over and became unresponsive. Green, a trainer at the center, checked his pulse, called 911 and under direction from the dispatcher, immediately started CPR.
"I was scared. I didn't know what to do, but I just reacted. I was on the speaker and they said you gotta start compressions," Green said.
She said she was certified four or five years ago, and never thought she'd have to perform CPR on anyone.
"It came back to me very easily, surprisingly. I was saying I've practiced on a dummy before and it's very similar," Green explained.
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The Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department is looking to add their name to a growing list of agencies who have signed up for an app called Pulse Point. Among other things, residents can be alerted when someone is in need of CPR within a certain distance from your location. You can also be alerted where the closest defibrillators can be found.
"Without that person here doing CPR, it's very likely that's a person would not live. So that technology is very helpful," said Michael Moser with the fire department.
"We should encourage our friends, families and employers to have people learn CPR skills," said Appin, who is already back on the saddle, happy to be riding horses again.
