Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Shikerrie Turpin and Will Washington with the Columbus Department of Fire and EMS the organization’s First Friday Hero award recipients for the month of March.
 
A man was at a veterinarian’s office and received the news that his dog had passed away. The man went into cardiac arrest and office staff called 911. Turpin and Washington began CPR on arrival and the patient was transported to the nearby Northside Campus Emergency Department.

The EMS team performed advanced cardiac life support and the patient was defibrillated multiple times. The Northside Emergency Department team continued resuscitation efforts until the patient was stable enough to be transported to the Midtown Campus Cardiac Catherization Lab.

The patient was discharged home six days later. The quick-thinking and skilled care provided by them EMS and emergency department teams saved this man’s life.

A ceremony with Turpin, Washington and hospital leadership will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 6 at the Northside Campus to commend Turpin and Washington for their response. Their story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.
 
Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make Columbus a better and safer place.