Walmart employees noticed a shopper feeling uneasy near register stand and knew they had to save her life

Being well-versed with basic first-aid techniques is crucial for every individual. It just might help us save lives during emergencies before professional medical help can arrive. Since medical crises can happen anywhere, employees at retail stores like Walmart are also required to be adept at promptly handling such situations. According to the Herald Tribune, staff at a Walmart in North Port, Florida, jumped in to save the life of a local woman who suffered a sudden heart attack. ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

It was just another day in the life of 78-year-old Mary Ann Disanzo who had visited the Walmart store in her area after grabbing a 2-for-1 dinner deal at a restaurant with her husband of 50 years. Disanzo and her husband entered the retail store to purchase groceries and a new geranium plant. But Disando started feeling unwell the moment she stepped into the store. She complained of feeling an overwhelming sense of lightheadedness. Disanzo still managed to walk towards a register stand at the store and leaned on it. A Walmart employee came forward to check on Disanzo and asked her if she was feeling okay. ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

Soon after, Disanzo blacked out on the spot. She had suffered a cardiac arrest at that moment. Thankfully, Walmart employees Suzan Martucci and Tanya Frener rushed to the old woman's side and began administering life-saving care before emergency medical services could arrive at the spot. Disanzo made it through the health scare all because of the quick and necessary action of the Walmart employees. She has been recovering since then and had surgeries to put in a pacemaker and defibrillator. “It changed my whole life,” Disanzo told the news outlet in 2024. “It gave me my whole life. I would be dead if it wasn’t for these two people.”

The North Port Fire Rescue personnel arrived at the Walmart around 5 p.m. and they initiated advanced life support care for Disanzo. She regained her pulse within a minute and was able to converse with people around her soon after. “If not for the quick thinking of the Walmart employees, this outcome could have been very different,” EMS Division Chief Brian Gorski said. “Their response, partnered with the exceptional care provided by our Station 82 C-Shift crew, put this patient in excellent hands.” ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ

Disanzo kept wondering what would have happened to her in a different situation where she wasn't attended by the skilled Walmart employees or if she had entered another Walmart. However, she hoped to see CPR and first-aid training become common knowledge everywhere. Disanzo admitted that if the two ladies had not done the right thing at the right time, she would have suffered brain damage. After the incident, Disanzo spent four days in the hospital and had a newfound determination to make the most of whatever time she was left with. “If you don’t make the most out of every day, you can die having not enjoyed life,” Disanzo quipped.  ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ