CPR Class Turns into Real Life Medical Situation

OSU Police Officers (from left) Captain Dave Rose, Sergeant Ron Kuszmaul, and Chief Paul Denton.

Marion Campus Public Safety Officer, Sergeant Ron Kuszmaul was recently recognized by Ohio State University Police Chief Paul Denton, Captain David Rose, Ohio State Marion Dean & Director Gregory S. Rose, and a room full of his colleagues for his July 13th act of heroism while attending to an emergency medical situation outside a local eatery near campus.

While eating lunch with four other Marion campus staff members, Kuszmaul was called on to assist a woman who was having seizures in the parking lot of Panera Bread on State Route 95 in Marion.

Hours prior to the emergency situation, Kuszmaul had stressed the importance of emergency medical training to a group of campus staff members. He told them they needed to be prepared in case such an incident took place on campus or anywhere else.

“Four hours of your time could save someone’s life,” Kuszmaul told the room full of trainees who were attending a CPR/AED certification class taught by Kuszmaul.  Little did he know, his training would be put to the test just hours later while enjoying a casual lunch off campus.

At lunch, Kuszmaul was approached by a woman who was hearing impaired and was limited in her ability to communicate clearly. She simply indicated “9-1-1” using her fingers.  The woman was able to communicate her companion was having seizures.  Sergeant Kuszmaul sprang into action.  Upon reaching the scene in the Panera parking lot, Kuszmaul quickly assessed the situation, contacted Marion’s Emergency Response team, and attended to the affected woman.

Communication was difficult as the victim and her companions were all hearing impaired.  Nevertheless, Officer Kuszmaul was able to provide reassurance to the patient and her companions while providing preliminary emergency response care.  Shortly after, EMTs from the Marion Fire Department arrived and the woman was transported to Marion General Hospital where she was treated and later released.

During the surprise ceremony at Ohio State Marion’s Maynard Hall, Chief Denton indicated that the commendation presentation would have happened much sooner, but Kuszmaul didn’t initially mention it because “he just saw it as part of his duty.

It is “nothing that anyone here wouldn’t have done,” Kuszmaul humbly said during the impromptu ceremony.  “It’s just something you do.”

Kuszmaul stresses that the CPR/AED training he organizes for the campus community is a valuable tool that equips Ohio State Marion faculty, staff, and students with life-saving skills they can use either on or off campus.  Sergeant Kuszmaul is his own best example.