Kroger Employee Praised for Helping Stricken Customer

When a customer at the Kroger store, 4478 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, collapsed with a seizure, an employee knew exactly what to do to keep the victim safe, says the Dunwoody Police Department.

The employee, identified only as Keith, sprang into action when he saw a woman convulsing. Police say the employee then rolled her onto her side and supported her head with a roll of paper towels. He then poured rubbing alcohol on several pieces of gauze and waved this under the customer’s nose until she became conscious.

When asked how he knew what steps to take to help the customer, Keith told authorities a family member has a similar condition so he knew how to respond to epileptic seizures.

“Ironically, all merchandise used to revive the customer was Kroger brand,” says the department. “The Dunwoody Police cannot thank Keith enough for stepping up and helping the customer.”

Residents joined in the praise for the quick-thinking help. Several called him a hero and urged the city and Kroger corporate to recognize his efforts.

Preeti Kamath Hosdurg wrote on the department’s Facebook page: “Glad and proud to know that our local Kroger has employees like Keith.”

The Centers for Disease Control outlines what to do if you are with someone during a seizure. Important steps include:

· Prevent injury by clearing the area around the person of anything hard or sharp.

· Ease the person to the floor and put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under his head.

· Turn the person gently onto one side. This will help keep the airway clear.

· Remove eyeglasses and loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make breathing difficult.

· Time the seizure with your watch. If the seizure continues for longer than five minutes without signs of slowing down or if a person has trouble breathing afterwards, appears to be injured, in pain, or recovery is unusual in some way, call 911.

· Do not hold the person down or try to stop his movements.

· Contrary to popular belief, it is not true that a person having a seizure can swallow his tongue. Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.