[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 143 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN THE DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I wish to call the attention of my 
colleagues in the Senate to a very dramatic episode that just occurred 
within the past hour and a half in the Dirksen Building.
  Just outside my office, a gentleman, a guest--not of mine but a guest 
to the building--had a heart attack, collapsed on the floor, and while 
falling severely cut his head. And the young women in our office rushed 
out. One of them, a member of my office, is a Girl Scout leader, and 
knows CPR. Loosening the gentleman's necktie, she started CPR, and the 
other member of my staff--my personal secretary, Donna Davis--had the 
forethought to run down the corridor and get Senator Frist, Dr. Frist.
  Dr. Frist responded immediately--immediately--and went to work on 
this gentleman, who oddly enough was from Tennessee.
  (Laughter in the Galleries)
  Dr. Frist did not check in advance.
  I discussed this with members of my office, all of whom were out 
there watching trying to be helpful. They were unanimous in their 
praise and admiration for the manner in which Dr. Frist responded, and 
he really knew what he was doing. He took complete charge, applied CPR, 
and this gentleman who was out--I mean his heart truly had stopped--to 
the best of their knowledge was revived because Dr. Frist, Senator 
Frist, responded so quickly. Then the emergency people came, and he was 
taken over to the hospital where hopefully he will survive.
  But this was a very, very dramatic occurrence. And I think all of us 
should have great admiration, respect, and affection for what Dr. Frist 
did. I am sorry that he is not here to hear these remarks. But we are 
very, very fortunate to have him in the U.S. Senate--not as the 
Senate's physician, which I am sure we would be glad to have--but there 
is somebody who really knows his business, and responded in a 
tremendous fashion. So I want to praise our colleague, Dr. Frist.
  I want to praise everybody in my office who called and responded, and 
Patty Parmer and the Girl Scouts. She is a Girl Scout leader. I have 
always been a fan of the Girl Scouts. And this gives me added respect 
for that organization because she is a leader. They learn CPR, and it 
undoubtedly contributed to saving this gentleman's life.
  So there we are, Mr. President. Sometimes we get deeply involved with 
$1 billion here, $1 billion there, and what we are going to do about 
child care and about maintenance of effort. But there are other things 
that are very, very important around here. And certainly Dr. Frist, 
Senator Frist, proved his mettle this afternoon.
  I want to thank the Chair.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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