Meet Wes Romano, airport security screener and probably a highly skilled future trauma physician.
Romano, 28, has a head start on a fine medical career if he chooses.
He's being hailed as a hero for literally pulling the victim of a heart attack back from death.
As he and witnesses recounted the event, Romano was on duty as a Transportation Security Administration screener at Friedman Memorial Airport on March 6 just before noon when a lineman for Atlantic Aviation/Sun Valley, formerly Sun Valley Aviation, collapsed while refueling a SkyWest Airlines Brasilia for its outbound flight.
While an airline customer service worker rushed to the terminal to call 911, Romano raced to the side of the stricken man.
Using skills he learned when being certified in CPR and lessons as a college student in health courses, Romano dropped to his knees, examined the man's eyes (open and glazed) and pulse (none).
"I didn't think this gentleman would come back," Romano recalled while quietly describing the incident in calm, precise detail. "But I needed to keep his brain alive."
He applied three repetitions of artificial respiration. The man groaned. His pulse was restarted, up to 20 beats per minute.
Precious seconds passed.
"I told him, 'Breathe!'" Romano said, estimating he'd been without oxygen for a minute and a half.
"He was dying again" as breathing became labored, Romano said.
He began applying compression to the man's chest.
By this time, a passenger on the SkyWest flight who identified himself as a cardiologist was at Romano's side, applying heavier compression, while Romano was instructed to continue with artificial respiration.
A heart defibrillator carried on the SkyWest aircraft was rushed to the doctor's hands, but within seconds and before the defibrillator was used, the man was revived and asked Romano, "Where are my glasses?" Romano recalled.
He was told to lie still, whereupon he was rolled on his side, his air passageway cleared and blood from a bitten tongue was allowed to drain.
"It was wonderful to see someone come back (from death)," Romano said.
According to Michael Rasch, chief financial officer for Atlantic Aviation, the man had suffered the failure of a valve in his heart. The valve was replaced after he was rushed to a Boise hospital.
The man requested that his name not be revealed.
Romano said "my life has put me in situations where I'm the first responder" several times. He said he previously had administered aid to two women and two children.
And yes, he plans a medical career by returning to college to get a master's degree in medicine and then, maybe, on to medical school in due course.
Airport Manager Rick Baird said Romano would be honored at a future meeting of the airport authority.
As for the cardiologist who worked with Romano on the victim, he gave only the name of "Dr. Rudy."
But he told Romano he'd been in the valley on vacation and had bet colleagues he would not do anything medical for five days while relaxing.
He lost the bet but helped save a life in the meantime.
Wes Romano
