University News

A recent graduate of Western Illinois University, Jalante Love (third from left) was recognized by the Naperville (IL) fire chief for the life-saving measures she took in June to help an individual experiencing a seizure and cardiac arrest. Love, who earned her bachelor's degree in exercise science in August, was honored with the Fire Chief Citizen's Award from Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis (next to Love) for her quick action to resuscitate an Xsport Fitness (Naperville, IL) member.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

New WIU Alum Honored for Life-Saving Efforts by Naperville Fire Chief

September 18, 2015

Share |
Printer friendly version

MACOMB, IL — A recent graduate of Western Illinois University was recognized by the Naperville (IL) fire chief for the life-saving measures she took in June to help an individual experiencing a seizure and cardiac arrest. Jalante Love, who earned her bachelor's degree in exercise science in August, was honored with the Fire Chief Citizen's Award from Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis for her quick action to resuscitate an Xsport Fitness (Naperville, IL) member.

Love, who served as an intern at Xsport Fitness over the summer, said her duties included personal training, as well as front-desk work, member check-ins and member account management. She said she was alerted to the club member's life-threatening situation by an Xsport Fitness employee.

"He ran to the front desk, where I was working at the time, and frantically informed me someone had collapsed on the treadmill in the back of the facility and he was unsure of what to do. I told him to call the paramedics, and then I ran to the back of the facility. Once I got to the scene, I saw a male, who appeared to be in his mid-20s, collapsed across the treadmills," she explained.

Love did not hesitate to take action. She asked another nearby club member to help her move the victim, who had begun to convulse, to the ground to ensure he would not choke and so she could assess his condition.

"Soon, more of my team members came to the scene, while I continuously checked his pulse, which began fading, as he was still slowly convulsing. As his pulse faded, I informed my supervisor we needed the AED [automated external defibrillator] just in case we started to lose him. While we were preparing to use the AED, the victim started to become cold, and I could no longer find his pulse. At that point, I informed my supervisor we had to administer a shock because he no longer had a pulse. We administered two shocks, and soon after that second shock, the paramedics arrived and took over. Thankfully, they re-established a pulse in the victim," she added.

Love was honored for her life-saving efforts in early August in a ceremony in Naperville's City Hall.

"I was informed of the award by way of a letter sent to Xsport for me, which took me by surprise. The first thing I did was call my mom to let her know," Love said. "I didn't know a thing like this actually happens, but I was more than honored to attend the ceremony and accept the award."

Love attributes her decisive response and action to her exercise science classes at Western, particularly her cardiac-based classes.

"Those courses helped me understand the steps in identifying the source of the problem and how to treat it in a real-life scenario. Not only did those classes help me in my internship and my current job, but also being CPR/AED certified more than three times helped me to remain calm during the situation. You honestly never know if you are capable of using a skill until you have to apply it in real life," she added.

Love, who is currently working at Xsport Fitness as a personal trainer, said she was recently informed the victim is awaiting a heart transplant. Next year, she plans to attend a graduate physical therapy program outside of Illinois.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing