A celebration and award ceremony was held Thursday at the Victor McDonald’s on Route 96 to honor employee Kate Orme, who jumped into action last fall to help a customer experiencing a medical emergency.
Orme was working when she noticed a customer appearing to have a seizure. Despite having no CPR training at the time, she said her “instincts took over” and she immediately ran from behind the counter to begin CPR. She continued assisting alongside an Ontario County Sheriff’s Deputy until paramedics arrived, according to McDonald’s co-owners Mari and Tim Potter.
Orme received multiple honors, including a safety award from the Ontario County Safety Council, a Senate Citation from Sen. Pam Helming, a Certificate of Appreciation, and a McDonald’s “1 in 8” letterman jacket for her “extraordinary act of courage, quick thinking and compassion.”
“Saving a life and jumping in to perform CPR is not in the job description,” said Mari Potter. “But we have wonderful employees, and it just goes to show what a big heart she has … We’re super proud of her, and just wanted to recognize her for her efforts.”
According to Orme, the customer was transported to the hospital where he was put on life support and died from his injuries. In the following months, Orme tried to reach out to his family and visited his coworkers to drop off flowers and give her condolences.
Kate Orme was given multiple awards and a cake to recognize her efforts of providing medical attention to one of her McDonald’s customers last September.
“The first couple months were a little rough getting over what happened,” she said. “But after it all washed off, I was very happy that I could have been there for comfort and hope for him. I just did what I wished anybody would have done for me or my family members.”
Orme emphasized the importance of CPR training. Following the incident, the only request she made of her employers was to provide CPR certification opportunities for all employees.
The Potters are now working with their training director to offer CPR classes to employees across their 13 local restaurants.
“Kate, today we recognize not only what you did — but who you are,” the Potters said. “You represent the very best of what it means to serve others. On behalf of McDonald’s, your team, and our entire community — thank you.”
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: McDonald’s employee honored for heroic act during medical emergency
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