Sault Ste Marie, Mich. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Sault Ste Marie announces that efforts made by CBP and the Michigan State Police (MSP) saved the life of a seventy-year-old Canadian citizen.
Just after noon on May 4, a motorist approached a primary inspection booth on foot asking the officer for assistance. He stated his wife was unresponsive in their vehicle. The officer immediately radioed for assistance and responded to the vehicle.
Multiple officers responded and a check of the passenger revealed that she was not breathing and had no pulse. A request for an automatic external defibrillator (AED) was made as other officers cleared traffic to facilitate the entrance of an ambulance. The female was moved to the secondary inspection area where officers began life saving measures.
Hearing the call from Chippewa County Central Dispatch, a Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officer (MCO) arrived ahead of the EMTs with an AED. The MSP MCO and CBP officers continued life saving measures until the passenger regained a pulse and started breathing on her own. The subject was monitored by CBP and MSP until the Sault Ste Marie EMTs arrived. The subject was taken by ambulance to War Memorial Hospital and CBP officers transported the husband to be by her side.
CBP officers and the International Bridge Authority expedited the crossing of the elderly couple's family into the United States to be in attendance at the hospital. War Memorial staff was able to stabilize the woman and she was conveyed back to Canada via ambulance three hours later for further treatment.
"The quick actions and response by these excellent and highly trained officers, coupled with the fantastic working relationship we have with all of the other agencies involved, helped to save this woman's life," stated Patrick Wilson, Port Director. "We are very hopeful for a speedy and full recovery and wish the best for her and her family."