Spring Hill mother helps save unresponsive man in Franklin by performing CPR

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A man survived a medical emergency in Franklin last month thanks in no small part to the community members who stopped, got him out of his car, and performed CPR.

On July 18, Alisha Jauch, of Spring Hill, was on her way to Starbucks when she noticed something odd along Cool Springs Boulevard: one work truck in front of another work truck, attempting to slowly bring the runaway truck to a stop.

According to Jauch, the victim was unconscious. She told the other driver to break the window to get him out. She said a man ran from the parking center and used a knife to break out the window, cutting his arm.

The group called 911. Then, Jauch said they needed to get the victim out of the truck.

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Jauch said she learned CPR when she was a lifeguard a long time ago. However, she took a refresher course in February, mostly to help protect her toddler, River.

“I was shaking so bad, but like I said, you just go into a zone. You don’t even think about it,” Jauch told News 2 as she stood in front of Fire Station 6 in Franklin on Thursday, Aug. 8.

News 2 got a copy of the 911 call. Throughout the chaotic recording, you can hear Jauch taking control of the situation in a calm demeanor.

“I’m going to give him CPR. Get him out of the truck. I know CPR; I’m certified in it,” she informed the group during the call.

Jauch described the situation while waiting for EMS to arrive: “His head was back and he had foam coming out of his mouth and everything…We broke the glass and I said, ‘Pull him out of the truck, he’s got to get out, we gotta do CPR.’ So I checked, no pulse, wasn’t breathing, foaming at the mouth, like I said, so I put his head back and I just started CPR right away…Honestly, I don’t know what came over me. I just did it, but as I was doing CPR, he would take a deep breath…and then I would wait a second, check, no pulse still, and then continue on again.”

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When first responders did arrive, she was very relieved, asking the first responder if he was ready as he prepared to take over the chest compressions for her.

According to Franklin Fire Department Lt.-Paramedic Aaron Sherwood, Jauch and the others who stopped all acted heroically.

Sherwood said every minute does matter in these situations, adding that cardiac events are the number one cause of death and only 10% of patients make it out of the hospital, so early CPR is crucial.

Thanks to the good Samaritans and Jauch’s quick and effective CPR, the man was rushed to the hospital, where he miraculously survived, Sherwood said.

“She played an important role with that,” the first responder added.

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Jauch told News 2 she called the hospitals and fire departments in the days following the incident, hoping to find out more about the man she helped save.

“I keep thinking about him. I just want to know if he’s okay,” Jauch said, adding that when someone told her the man was out of the hospital, she almost cried.

Franklin emergency officials urge everyone to learn CPR. To help with that, the fire department is offering a free course on Nov. 9 at Franklin City Hall.

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