"Stop that CPR and get back to work!"

[EStreetJoe]

Woman collapses at desk, co-worker starts applying CPR until a supervisor tells her to stop and get back on the phone and assist customers.

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/10/14/woman-told-to-stop-giving-dying-co-worker-cpr/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl8|sec1_lnk2|104571

Here's the first four graphs of the story:

Last month, a Time Warner Cable customer service rep died at her desk. After any unexpected death, people searched for answers, explanations, someone to blame. But in this case, there may have actually been something foul afoot. A local news station reports that after a co-worker began giving CPR to 67-year-old Julia Nelson, a supervisor allegedly told her to stop and "get back on the phone and take care of customers."

Nelson slumped at her desk at the Time Warner Call Center in Garfield Heights, Ohio, and wasn't breathing by the time paramedics arrived. But before that happened, a co-worker rushed over and began administering CPR, the woman told WOIO, only to be asked to stop. Employees at the scene have confirmed this report.

The woman was also told later by another supervisor that she could be "held liable if something goes wrong."

Ohio has a "Good Samaritan" law on the books, however, which protects bystanders who provide emergency aid from being sued for unintentional injury or wrongful death.

 

[Point of Order]

More facts, less legal analysis, Claire Gordon. Get your ass down there and report this story. Thanks.

 

[Gator]

Latham, Mass., has the same law on the books.

 

[dixiehack]

"This is Peggy, how may I get your heart working again?"

 

[JayFarrar]

Every state has some form of a Good Samaritan law on the books.

A friend of mine is alive this day because he had a co-worker perform CPR on him until the fire department got there.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

But Time Warner runs commercials in Cleveland all the time with happy customer service agents telling me how much they love to help!

 

[KYSportsWriter]

So will the supervisor be held accountable for this?

 

[SoCalDude]

One of our former news research assistants saved two people here in the office using CPR. The running joke was, if you're going to have a heart attack, make sure you're in the library.

 

[DocTalk]

One reason that CPR guidelines have been simplified is to get rid of the fear factor that bystanders could do harm. The routine is pretty simple:

1. ask somebody to call 911
2. ask somebody to find an AED
3. press hard and fast on the chest to the beat of "Staying Alive"

And remember, the victim isn't breathing and doesn't have heartbeat. They are dead. You can't make them any worse.

 

[imjustagirl]

And remember, the victim isn't breathing and doesn't have heartbeat. They are dead. You can't make them any worse.

Sorry, that made me laugh. And now I have "Staying Alive" in my head.

 

[Point of Order]

And remember, the victim isn't breathing and doesn't have heartbeat. They are dead. You can't make them any worse.

Sorry, that made me laugh. And now I have "Staying Alive" in my head.

Just don't stop chest compressions when you hit the long note.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

What does it say about someone that they would stop doing CPR on a co-worker because their boss told them to? If I'm doing CPR on a co-worker and my boss tells me to stop, I'd tell the boss to shut the **** up and get back in her office.

 

[Stitch]

What does it say about someone that they would stop doing CPR on a co-worker because their boss told them to? If I'm doing CPR on a co-worker and my boss tells me to stop, I'd tell the boss to shut the **** up and get back in her office.

It tells you Time Warner call center reps are even stupider than we think.

 

[joe]

What does it say about someone that they would stop doing CPR on a co-worker because their boss told them to? If I'm doing CPR on a co-worker and my boss tells me to stop, I'd tell the boss to shut the **** up and get back in her office.

Exactly.

 

[schiezainc]

Knowing the way businesses run nowadays, the supervisor probably saw it as an opportunity to save some money by having the dead lady clock out 15 minutes earlier.

 

[dixiehack]

Well cross her off.

 

[cyclingwriter]

One reason that CPR guidelines have been simplified is to get rid of the fear factor that bystanders could do harm. The routine is pretty simple:

1. ask somebody to call 911
2. ask somebody to find an AED
3. press hard and fast on the chest to the beat of "Staying Alive"

And remember, the victim isn't breathing and doesn't have heartbeat. They are dead. You can't make them any worse.

ah crap, I have been using "More than a Woman" as my beat for years.

 

[trifectarich]

I'm surprised we haven't heard from the irate Time Warner caller who was placed on hold for a few minutes. "I need my Price Is Right!"

 

[imjustagirl]

Well cross her off.

Goddammit. It's "Cross her off, then."

I have no idea why that line bugs me when it's misquoted, when I can't remember 99 percent of the lines everyone else quotes from memory. But it does.

 

[dixiehack]

Dr. Pepper.

What now woman?