CRESAPTOWN — When Anny Platt’s mom went into sudden cardiac arrest, the fourth-grader performed life-saving CPR until emergency responders arrived.
“Because of Anny’s courage and her quick thinking, she and her sister, Abby, were able to save her mom’s life,” Jeff Hobbs, UPMC Western Maryland’s Trauma Program manager, said. “Because of that, she is here with us today. Anny is a hero, Abby is a hero and we’re very fortunate to know them.”
Anny was presented with awards and recognition from UPMC Western Maryland, Cresaptown Elementary, Allegany County Department of Emergency Services and her teacher, Abigail Weisenmiller, at Cresaptown Elementary School Monday morning in front of her classmates.
Anny, 10, and her sister, Abby, who is 19 and attending school to become a nurse, called 911 and jumped into action.
Shaunna Simmons, the 911 operator who took the call, walked Anny through performing CPR.
“Abby and Anny called in, they were panicking because they said their mother wasn’t responding,” Simmons said. “So, I’m walking through how to get her on the floor, how to do CPR and Anny listened very well. She did everything that was asked of her to do, she counted and did chest compressions, but she was resuscitating her mother.”
In regard to being honored and rewarded for her bravery and quick-thinking, Anny said, “I have no words. I did not expect it at all.”
“I’m very proud of her,” Simmons said. “I remember on the call I kept telling her, ‘You’re doing great, you keep going, you’re doing great’ and she did really great.”