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CNN Live At Daybreak
Frist to the Rescue
Aired January 02, 2003 - 05:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, by chance a doctor arrives on the scene of an accident and administers first aid. Not so unusual, right? But what if the doctor happens to be the incoming Senate majority leader?
CNN's Charles Molineaux tells us about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While emergency crews were still rushing to the scene west of Fort Lauderdale, passersby scrambled to help out, including off duty paramedics and firefighters and the incoming Republican leader of the U.S. Senate, Dr. Bill Frist. In his non-political line of work, Frist is a heart and lung surgeon.
Frist was driving on the stretch of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley when he came upon the spot where a blowout sent an SUV rolling over with six people on it. He evacuated victims and put some of them on life support, which emergency crews say was a big help.
CAPT. JEFFREY ANDREWS, BROWARD COUNTY FIRE RESCUE: Without his help, we probably wouldn't have been able to get the patient intubated. I mean he knew the procedures that we were doing. He was very familiar with the procedures that we were doing and he knew what we needed to have done in order to help get that airway in position.
MOLINEAUX: The senator issued a statement saying, "As a doctor, my first instincts are to help and I was privileged to offer my assistance today at the scene of this horrible accident. My heart goes out to this family, which must face the start of the new year with this terrible tragedy."
LT. JOHN BAGNARDI, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: It was very heartwarming to see someone of his stature stop to render aid. It's comforting for me to know that, you know, just because someone is famous or has very high prestige, if it was me out here, that that person would have stopped. That's what we like to see from our elected officials. I'm, you know, a public servant. That's what I'm supposed to do. That's what we, you know, it makes you feel good.
MOLINEAUX: This is becoming a familiar story for Frist in his Senate career, even in the Capitol itself. In 1995, he resuscitated a tourist who had a heart attack. Last year he was the doctor on the scene when Senator Thurmond, who was 98 at the time, had a near collapse. And in July of 1998, just after walking off the Senate floor, Frist rushed to help after a gunman shot up the Capitol, killed two guards and wounding a tourist.
(on camera): In his brief comments on the Florida accident, Frist spent less time talking about what he'd done than he did on the police and paramedics who were on the scene. He said their performance was outstanding and showed tremendous professionalism and experience.
Charles Molineaux, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And you can read more on the Frist aid story at our Web site, cnn.com. AOL keyword is CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 2, 2003 - 05:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, by chance a doctor arrives on the scene of an accident and administers first aid. Not so unusual, right? But what if the doctor happens to be the incoming Senate majority leader?
CNN's Charles Molineaux tells us about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHARLES MOLINEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While emergency crews were still rushing to the scene west of Fort Lauderdale, passersby scrambled to help out, including off duty paramedics and firefighters and the incoming Republican leader of the U.S. Senate, Dr. Bill Frist. In his non-political line of work, Frist is a heart and lung surgeon.
Frist was driving on the stretch of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley when he came upon the spot where a blowout sent an SUV rolling over with six people on it. He evacuated victims and put some of them on life support, which emergency crews say was a big help.
CAPT. JEFFREY ANDREWS, BROWARD COUNTY FIRE RESCUE: Without his help, we probably wouldn't have been able to get the patient intubated. I mean he knew the procedures that we were doing. He was very familiar with the procedures that we were doing and he knew what we needed to have done in order to help get that airway in position.
MOLINEAUX: The senator issued a statement saying, "As a doctor, my first instincts are to help and I was privileged to offer my assistance today at the scene of this horrible accident. My heart goes out to this family, which must face the start of the new year with this terrible tragedy."
LT. JOHN BAGNARDI, FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL: It was very heartwarming to see someone of his stature stop to render aid. It's comforting for me to know that, you know, just because someone is famous or has very high prestige, if it was me out here, that that person would have stopped. That's what we like to see from our elected officials. I'm, you know, a public servant. That's what I'm supposed to do. That's what we, you know, it makes you feel good.
MOLINEAUX: This is becoming a familiar story for Frist in his Senate career, even in the Capitol itself. In 1995, he resuscitated a tourist who had a heart attack. Last year he was the doctor on the scene when Senator Thurmond, who was 98 at the time, had a near collapse. And in July of 1998, just after walking off the Senate floor, Frist rushed to help after a gunman shot up the Capitol, killed two guards and wounding a tourist.
(on camera): In his brief comments on the Florida accident, Frist spent less time talking about what he'd done than he did on the police and paramedics who were on the scene. He said their performance was outstanding and showed tremendous professionalism and experience.
Charles Molineaux, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And you can read more on the Frist aid story at our Web site, cnn.com. AOL keyword is CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
