It was just another September shift at Chick-fil-A.
Until it wasn’t.
SC nursing student Tauya Nenguke, 22, was taking orders at the drive through when he saw a young man unconscienced in the parking lot surrounded by his panicked friends.
Tauya’s training kicked in.
He directed one of the man’s friends to call 911 as he began CPR.
Tauya said the man had no pulse and was not breathing.
Tauya said he knew he needed to stay calm.
“I said, don’t worry guys I know CPR and started chest compressions on the man on the ground,” he said.
Tauya said he administered CPR while shouting the address and directions to the person on the phone with a 911 operator.
“I taught the man’s friend how to perform CPR to help me if I got fatigued, which he did for a few minutes before paramedics arrived,” he said.
As Tauya performed the critical procedure, the unconscious man began to breathe.
When an EMT crew arrived, Tauya briefed them, then stepped aside.
“I just got back to do my regular job and continued taking food orders,” he said.
Paramedics said Tauya saved the man’s life.
EMT Noemi Nava said Tauya’s fast thinking was crucial.
“It is essential to begin the CPR as soon as possible because after 4-6 minutes the brain is starved of oxygen and starts to die,” she said.
Tauya said the experience confirmed his desire to work as a nurse.
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) emergency procedure is well known for saving lives, but to be able to use it so soon after training is something not many people experience, he said.
“I learn CPR at the Southwestern College Aquatic Center, where they taught me the skills that gave me the confidence to jump in to this situation.”
