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All the best heroes are just ordinary people, who make themselves extraordinary with their deeds. One such super-woman Veena Sharma, 42-year-old resident of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh,who saved an army man’s life, is an example of just that.
Quick thinking by this resident of Kotkhai area of Shimla saved the life of an injured Army jawan who had lost his footing while trying to escape a pack of dogs, and plunged into a 50-ft deep roadside ditch.
This happened on August 20, when a group of Army men from Jutogh Cantt, were out on a routine morning run, and encountered the canines at Banuti area, around 12 km from Shimla. Panicked by the sight of the ferocious pack, one of the soldiers, Mukesh Kumar, fell into a pit while fleeing from them. His head hit a stone rendering him unconscious. Aghast on seeing him lying prone and motionless, his colleagues began calling out for help.
It was then that Veena Sharma,approached Mukesh at the spur of the moment and saved his life. She performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (CPCR) and did everything that she could to save his life.
Veena Sharma who defied all the odds in this situation. She didn’t waste a single second and ran towards Mukesh the moment she saw him, while other Jawans stood still, assuming Mukesh was dead.
The good Samaritan, rushed there on hearing their cries for help.Even as the soldiers' mates stood by helplessly thinking him to be dead, she lost no time in trying to revive him."Putting the unconscious soldier's head on my lap, I tried to revive him, pumping his chest until he stirred and groaned in pain. That was when we realised that he was still alive," Veena said.
The immediate problem she said was how to transport him to hospital as hardly any vehicle plied on the Banuti link road. "Finding no other way to shift the injured man, I called my 72-year-old father Ramesh Sharma, who rarely drives these days, to bring the car. Since none of the soldiers knew how to drive, it was left to my father to transport the injured soldier to Jutogh military hospital," she added. He was then referred to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, where timely specialised treatment saved his life. Kumar, a general duty soldier, belongs to Fatehpur area of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.
When the other soldiers informed their seniors about this, the Army officials came to Veena's house on August 26 to thank her and handed over a memento and appreciation letter signed by Assam Rifles commanding officer. The CO of Ist Battalion of Assam Regiment Col Deepak Kataria said in his letter: "Because of your exceptional act, the individual was able to receive immediate medical attention through specialised doctors which saved his life."
Speaking to TOI, Kumar said, "I cannot thank this brave woman enough for saving my life. I have been sent home on leave to Fatehpur to rest but I want to meet her as soon as possible."
We learn this CPCR method in our Disaster Management Course. Disaster Management training will really help us at times.
Salute to Veena Sharma!
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