Hero Cop Saves Driver Who Was 'Pale and Cold' at Stop Sign

By SCOTT BERNARDE (Patch Staff)

A Gwinnett County Police officer is credited with saving the life of a man who was found unresponsive behind the wheel of a work van at a stop sign Friday morning.

Police say Officer Scott Thompson could not feel a pulse on the driver, who was “pale and cold,” according to a news release. Thompson used CPR and was prepared to use a newly issued defibrillator to revive the man as paramedics were en route.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. Friday in unincorporated Lilburn.

Police said Thompson was called to the intersection of Rockbride and Wydella roads after a 911 caller reported the man was unresponsive while sitting in the driver’s seat. Other motorists were driving around the stationary vehicle, police said.

When the officer arrived at the scene, he noticed that the driver was unconscious and not alert. The officer could not feel a pulse on the driver who was pale and cold. He unbuckled the driver’s seatbelt and pulled him out of the van. The officer notified the dispatcher that this was a medical call, and members of the Gwinnett County Fire Department were dispatched to the scene. -- Gwinnett Police news release

While awaiting an ambulance, Thompson cut the man’s shirt open and applied the pads of the defibrillator (also called an AED) to the man’s chest.

“The AED gave the officer simple commands while it was doing its patient assessment,” police spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera said. “Though the AED said that no shock would be administered, the officer followed the directions and began CPR. After about 5 cycles of chest compressions, the man lifted his legs and CPR was stopped. FD arrived shortly thereafter.”

The man was conscious and able to speak when paramedics arrived. He was taken to Eastside Medical Center.

Pihera said a program that issues AEDs to Gwinnett officers began on May 22.

(Photo: Gwinnett Police Officer Scott Thompson)