STAFF at Chemist Discount Centre (CDC) Fawkner in Melbourne had a salient reminder of why pharmacists' work matters when a car crashed into the building a few days ago.
As intern May Morshedy recalled: "It was a regular Sunday at Chemist Discount Centre in Fawkner, when I heard a big bang.
"I rushed outside to see what happened and my heart almost skipped a beat when I saw that a car crashed into our shop's wall, and that behind the wheel there was an unconscious elderly man," she wrote on LinkedIn.
Morshedy ran inside to raise alarm and call for an ambulance, while pharmacist owner Ahmed Ibrahim went to help the driver.
With a bystander's help, Ibrahim pulled the man out of the car.
He had no pulse, and they immediately commenced CPR.
Like many pharmacies, CDC Fawkner had an automated external defibrillator (AED) on the premises (PD 28 Mar).
Ibrahim raced to get it, and quickly put it to use.
"With the CPR and a shock from our AED, after a few long minutes he was alive when paramedics arrived," Ibrahim wrote on LinkedIn.
The family of the man visited the pharmacy later with some flowers to thank them and let them know he was alive and well.
"We were told by the family that his heart stopped for four minutes, and that if it wasn't for the help he received and the AED machine, this man would've been dead," Morshedy said.
"This is not something you see every day, and moments like this remind us of how vital healthcare is," said Morshedy, praising Ibrahim and the team "for their quick thinking, their compassion, and their courage".
Reflecting on the experience, Ibrahim said, "I'm proud we were ready, and proud our pharmacy had the right training and equipment.
"This is what being a pharmacist is really about - saving lives when it counts." KB
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