DRIVER PERFORMS CPR AFTER MAN AFTER COLLAPSES AT COMPANY YARD

07/17/2020
Alexandria, Virginia

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Douglas Brown, from Dallas, Texas a Highway Angel for rushing to aid a heart attack victim at the company yard while Brown was onsite.  
 
Douglas was waiting at his company yard while a contractor applied new decals to his tractor. He had stepped into the office to speak with dispatch when the head of the shop rushed in and yelled to call 911. Someone had collapsed to the ground of an apparent heart attack and was unresponsive. Brown ran outside to help. It was the contractor. “He was on the ground and his son, who was with him that day, was holding him,” recalled Brown. “I could see that he was turning blue. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t there. I put my hand under his nose, but couldn’t feel any air.” Brown adjusted the man so he was lying on the ground and began CPR. “I opened his mouth and checked, but he had some chew that was restricting his airway.” He started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to push the obstruction through and open the airway and then resumed chest compressions. Others were now gathering at the scene. Brown continued CPR for 15-20 minutes.  
 
“Another driver, a former fire fighter, came over and helped me keep him alive until the ambulance got there,” said Brown. “They worked on him and got him up almost like nothing was wrong. His son came back a couple days later and finished doing the decals on my truck. I was happy to hear that his father is just fine.  

For his willingness to assist a fellow driver, TCA has presented Brown with a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decals. The company has also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel.

Since the program’s inception in August 1997, more than 1,250 drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage they have displayed while on the job.