Before becoming the governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber was an emergency room doctor, and he put that training to use Monday night.
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber jumped out of his car this week to help an unconscious woman on the street. (AP Photo/Statesman-Journal, Kobbi R. Blair)
According to KGW-TV, an unconscious woman was lying on the ground when Kitzhaber was driving by on his way to dinner in Portland, Oregon. Kitzhaber had his driver stop and call the paramedics while he jumped out and performed CPR on the woman, who was not breathing.
Emergency crews arrived soon thereafter.
"It was definitely a surprise to see him there," fire department Lt. Alan Ferschweiler told KPTV-TV. "The governor was able to assist in ventilation, I'm not sure if he still carries his medical equipment with him, but it was all there and he was able to use it."
Paramedics took the woman to a local hospital, where she was found to have overdosed on drugs. She is expected to live, according to the news station.
"The governor wishes her well and hopes that she seeks treatment in order to avoid the bad situation she was faced with today," a representative from the governor's office told KGW.
Watch KPTV's report:
This isn't the first time Kitzhaber has jumped into action for someone in a medical emergency. CNN pointed out that Kitzhaber stopped in the middle of a 2010 gubernatorial debate to help a man suffering a heart seizure.
Kitzhaber is in his third term as governor, first taking office in 1995.
