On January 5th, a routine day at Sam's Club in Niagara Falls transformed into a life-altering moment for Robert Beer, a dedicated merchandise manager with nine years of service. While he was engaged in training a colleague in the break room, an urgent call crackled over the radio announcing a "Code White"—a medical emergency that would soon demand his full attention.
Rushing to the scene, Beer found an 81-year-old customer lying on the floor, unresponsive. A woman was already there performing the vital steps of CPR. Drawing on his experience as an 18-year Army veteran who had served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Beer assessed the situation and directed a coworker to fetch an Automated External Defibrillator, knowing that every second counted.
As the AED was brought to him, Beer took charge of the situation. The device delivered a shock to the elderly man, while the woman continued her life-saving efforts. Beer checked for a pulse and elevated the man's legs to enhance blood flow. When the woman grew tired, he seamlessly took over CPR, maintaining the rhythm until the fire department arrived to take over. Their combined efforts paid off—the man regained a pulse, a moment that filled Beer with profound relief.
When emergency responders wheeled the man out on a gurney, he was awake and able to speak with his wife, a sight that left Beer in awe of the power of teamwork and quick action.
In recognition of his heroism, Beer is set to receive the Heartsaver Hero Award from the American Heart Association at an upcoming Buffalo Bandits game. Yet, he feels that another hero remains unrecognized—the woman who initiated CPR. Despite his efforts to track her down, she vanished from the scene without sharing her name, leaving Beer and the man's family eager to express their gratitude.
The man they saved celebrated his 82nd birthday the day after the incident.
Sam's Club Manager in Niagara Falls Saves 81-year-old Customer's Life