Make Medicine Better

Tres Bokern didn’t think he would actually use the CPR and safety training he received on the job at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, or that he would save a stranger’s life.

Driving to the grocery store with his wife, Bokern heard tires squealing, and looked over to see a vehicle jerk out of traffic into a parking lot and slam into park. Because the car caught his attention, he watched as the occupants got out and seemed to be in distress.

I knew something serious was happening,” he says. “So I put my car in park and ran over. When I got there,
I saw a man holding an unconscious child, smacking him on the back.”

The parents of the child said he was choking on some food and not breathing. Bokern asked his wife to call 911 and removed the child from the car.

Then I told the man that I thought we should try some abdominal thrusts,” he says. “He handed me the child and I did several thrusts. Finally, the child started breathing again.”

By the time the paramedics arrived, the child was crying — which was a good sign. After a few moments, the child began breathing normally again. The parents thanked Bokern profusely for saving their child’s life.

While not everyone would be prepared to handle this situation, Bokern was ready due to his training in facilities engineering at BJH. Every three years, all employees in the department are strongly encouraged to update their CPR certifications by the director, Dan Mohrman.

The facilities engineering department has had a culture of providing health care information and safety programs for its staff,” Mohrman says. “The department’s monthly meetings quite frequently include updates in health-related issues.”

I took the CPR class offered by the facilities engineering department and I’m glad I did,” Bokern says. “It’s something you hope you never have to do. But it was a good feeling when the boy’s father came up to me with tears rolling down his face and thanked me.”