Audra's quick thinking in a high-pressure situation was second to none

I was recently at the beach in Ludington when emergency struck. What took place was an 18-year-old girl who is not a strong swimmer was swimming with her friends at Stearns Beach when she got out too far and went under. Her friends were able to get her close to shore where another bystander and I carried her out of the water. The girl had no pulse and was not breathing. While my other sister-in-law called 911, Audra - my sister-in-law who works as an occupational therapist at Bronson Methodist Hospital - jumped right in with compressions recognizing the severity of the girl's condition. We continued CPR until the girl started breathing on her own but remained unresponsive. Once law enforcement and EMS arrived, the girl was transported to the hospital. Audra did a great job performing the compressions and was instrumental in getting the girl back to breathing on her own before she was rushed to the hospital.

Audra and her sisters continued to help out the girls' numerous friends by driving them to where they were staying and making sure they contacted family members.

Having never done CPR before and being in that type of high-pressure situation, Audra was fantastic. She never hesitated for a second and was an awesome partner. Audra mentioned the CPR training she received at Bronson a few times after the incident as preparing her for an emergency like this. No doubt it was instrumental in her knowing what to do and performing flawlessly.

Water Safety Resources

Michigan summers are all about fun at the lake or pool—but safety comes first. Check out this article from Bronson pediatrician, Dr. John Spitzer, to learn practical water safety tips to help protect you and your loved ones. More resources are available on the Safe Kids Greater South Haven webpage.

For families heading to the South Haven beaches, be sure to take advantage of free life jacket loaner stations. Both adult and child sized jackets are available thanks to generous support from the Bronson Health Foundation and community donors. Learn more.