Medical Emergency in Section 5

Prior to the October general conference all GSMs were required to attend a security training in the Conference Center.  As part of the training, G Group was assigned positions to serve as part of the emergency scenarios.  My position was on the front rope between sections four and five.  No one knew what situations would be thrown at us.  We were instructed what do to and then left to our own vigilance.  It so happened that one of the scenarios was a medical emergency.  An individual across the aisle and two rows up from my position suffered a heart attack.  We all reacted as trained and evacuated the row in front and the row behind the emergency.  After security was on scene, we returned to our positions. 

I learned from that training the importance of being aware of what was happening around us.  I took it seriously that we were to maintain vigilance during our service.  Little did I know how close the training would be to a future reality!

During the last session of the April 2012 general conference.  I sat scanning the crowd, listening to Elder Ballard.  As he began to speak, I noticed a brother on the end of the aisle across from me switch seats with his young daughter.  As he sat back down he leaned over to the brother next to him and said something.  Immediately the brother he was concerned about collapsed onto his shoulder.  I stood and quickly approached to lend assistance.  He said he needed help to assist the brother from the conference.  I looked to the security brother three rows down and indicated that we needed help. Security came and began to administer aide. Susan, who was sitting directly in front of the situation had simultaneously become aware and began to evacuate the seats in front of their row.  Lee, who was seated by the front rope, also came up the aisle to evacuate the row directly behind us.  Paul was seated several rows back and also came forward; he got on the radio and reported a medical emergency.  The brother who had passed out regained consciousness as security spoke to him.  With five of us standing in the aisle, I decided that I needed to sit down and let the team do their work.  The brother was assisted from the plaza before medical personnel had time to respond.  The aisle cleared and I was left alone.  As I contemplated what had just happened I noticed that the second rope was still down.  I moved from my seat to Susan's position which was by the second rope and put the rope back up.  Minutes later the security brother stationed at the top of the aisle came down to take the position that had been vacated.  The guest service missionaries and security had responded efficiently as a team, just as we had been trained. 

Mike Parker