During a Friday night performance at a local Huntsville, Arkansas, venue in early November, Ashley Perkins' country music set was interrupted by someone who was screaming frantically.
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They were urgently asking someone to call 911. There was a man lying on the ground. He wasn't breathing, his face was purple, and he showed no pulse.
"It was like something instinctual took over," Perkins said. She flew off the stage and went over to help.
Ashley Perkins Is Trained for Moments Like This
When she's not on stage, Perkins is an inpatient social worker at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks. This meant she was rigorously trained in CPR.
Seeing what was happening, she confidently took charge of the situation.
"Thirty compressions, one breath every six seconds," she said.
Perkins kept a steady rhythm of compressions while guiding someone else to administer the breaths. Another audience member felt for the person's pulse.
"After delivering CPR for a short time, the man took a deep breath, and his pulse and color started to return," Perkins shared.
An Ambulance Arrived on the Scene
As reported by VA News, first responders arrived at the venue shortly thereafter. They loaded the man into an ambulance, where he regained consciousness. He was then airlifted to the nearest hospital for treatment.
"Our CPR coordination efforts felt pretty seamless, even under pressure," said Perkins. "We stayed focused on the task until the EMS units arrived."
Perkins later learned that her quick actions saved the man's life.
"I never expected myself to jump into action like I did," she said. "Being trained and confident in using CPR skills when needed is so important, because someone's life and well-being is quite literally in your hands."
This experience highlighted just how crucial Perkins' training was in handling the situation.
"You never think you'll have to use these skills on a real person when you're an average Joe," she said. "It's much different from beating up a CPR mannequin.
"Without my training, I wouldn't have had the confidence to step in and help."
