MORRISON, Colo. — Karl Klausner earned the Civilian Award from West Metro Fire Rescue (WMFR) for saving someone’s life in a restaurant. WMFR said it’s a recognition for someone that goes above and beyond what they would normally do.
Klausner stepped into action when he noticed someone choking across the restaurant. “Next thing I know, there's somebody choking across the restaurant and I had to jump up and go save her,” Klausner said. “I performed about two or three Heimlich maneuvers and she actually went limp in my arms.
So I had to lay her down because she had then went unconscious. So I had to start performing CPR on her after that.” Karl has trained for these cases at work as a journeyman lineman.
He just didn't think he'd ever need to use his training, especially outside of work. “I think she was unconscious for probably about a minute and a half, a minute 45 [seconds],” Klausner said. “You can tell in her throat she started to swallow something.
And her lips that were blue, started getting their color back. It was pretty remarkable how quickly the color came back after she swallowed the obstruction.” After the fire rescue got to the restaurant, and the woman was okay, Klausner carried on with his night.
“I went back to my table very quickly and kind of continued my dinner after that,” Klausner said. But people nearby were proud to point out the hero to first responders. "All the witnesses I guess were like pointing [and saying] 'Yeah that's the.