Transportation Security Officers in Salt Lake Save Airport Employee’s Life
Salt Lake City International Airport
Transportation Security Officers Scott Davis and Louis Gillman were recently recognized by TSA at Salt Lake City International Airport for saving airport employee Dennis Swenson’s life.
Working at Checkpoint One on January 10, Davis and Gillman were alerted by airport employee Rosaria Smith that a co-worker was on the floor at Air Terminal Gifts, suffering from an apparent heart attack.
The 65-year-old man was not breathing and had no pulse. Davis, a former Marine who received his first medic training over 40 years ago, unsuccessfully attempted to clear the man’s airway. Rolling the man onto his back, Davis began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while Gilman, who took a CPR class 20 years ago, performed chest compressions.
The airport’s law enforcement arrived and used an automatic defibrillator in an unsuccessful attempt to revive Swenson. The officers resumed CPR until the paramedics arrived.
“Those guys were great,” said one paramedic. “They saved that man’s life!”
Swenson was recovering after receiving a pacemaker.
"Davis and Gillman are both exemplary employees and embrace TSA’s core values,” said Ron Malin, acting federal security director. “Their integrity and honor were proven as they responded to a stranger in need, without hesitation."
