Volunteer EMT Gives First Aid To Passenger Who Blacked Out On Southwest Flight
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A volunteer firefighter/EMT from northwest Indiana was getting a lot of love on the Internet on Wednesday, after acting quickly when a fellow Southwest Airlines passenger passed out on a flight earlier this week.
The medical emergency happened as 28-year old Jason Morris was returning to Chicago from Las Vegas on Monday. Morris said he comforted the man, and took his vital signs, and had them relayed to Southwest's on-the-ground doctor, who determined the flight could still continue to Midway International Airport, where fire department paramedics took over.
"Once everything was wrapped up, I shook his hand and said I hope everything works out for you," Morris said.
When Flight 2298 landed, a fellow passenger related the story to her Facebook friends, and included a picture of Jason Morris. The post was "liked" more than 9,500 times as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, and shared more than 2,800 times.
Morris said he's not sure what the man's medical issue was, but he said his own father had a similar incident happen to him two-and-a-half years ago on a flight to Las Vegas. His father blacked out, and his doctor determined it was the result of a condition that causes his blood pressure to "bottom out" at times when he's on an airplane.
Southwest Airlines thanked Morris on Facebook.
"We value a Servant's Heart here at Southwest and it is clear that you have one as big as a 737. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Passenger you assisted and we wish them a speedy recovery," the airline wrote in a comment on the photo taken by another passenger.
Podcast
Morris is a captain/EMT with the Lake of the Four Seasons Fire Department in Indiana, a volunteer department. His full-time job is as an operator at a steel mill in Northwest Indiana.
"I just like helping people," he said. "Some of the passengers came up and thanked me, shook my hand, whatever, and said 'I hope you get something from this.' I said, 'Hey, you know, just saying thank you's good enough for me."
Morris said his dream job would be a Chicago firefighter. He has taken the most recent test and is waiting for his number to come up.
