Policeman's wife uses training to rescue trapped driver

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Mar 20, 2008 | by Will Oremus

FOSTER CITY -- Dana Froomin was accustomed to seeing her husband stop to help strangers in need. A captain in the Foster City Police Department, it was Jon Froomin's job to know just what to do in an emergency.

But he wasn't there on the rainy day in January when a car rolled over right in front of her on Highway 92, trapping one of its occupants.

So as other cars sped past, Dana Froomin pulled over and took charge. Her on-the-spot actions have since earned her a commendation from Foster City's mayor and drawn attention to the city's well- regarded Community Emergency Response Team.

Froomin and a man who never gave his name parked their vehicles in the thin strip between Highway 92's westbound lanes and the exit ramp onto northbound Interstate 280. They found the driver of the flipped car stuck inside, her seat belt wrapped around her waist.

"She was trying to get out, but she couldn't move," Froomin recalled.

With paramedics on their way, the man was reluctant to interfere. But Froomin had completed Foster City's CERT training course just months before and knew that inaction could be fatal. With the man's assistance, she freed the injured woman from the car and guided her out of the roadway.

Meanwhile, another man and three children had emerged from the overturned car, in shock but apparently unhurt. None spoke English.

"Everybody was just kind of standing around dazed," Froomin said. "I said, 'We need to get them off the freeway.'"

Froomin asked her fellow good Samaritan to keep an eye on the car's injured driver while she went to her own car and retrieved her CERT backpack. She whipped out a foil blanket and a bucket for the woman to sit on, then brought out a roll of gauze to stanch the bleeding from her arm.

Minutes later, the paramedics arrived. "The fireman said, 'Looks like you have everything under control,'" Froomin said. She credits the 22-hour CERT course with giving her the presence of mind to act.

"Your sense of security and confidence is dramatically changed by going through this program," she said. "It gives you a really good feeling to know you can help someone in an emergency or disaster."

For her efforts, Froomin was publicly commended by Foster City Mayor Pam Frisella at a City Council meeting Monday night.

"I hope I'm able to do that," said Frisella, who also has gone through the city's training.

So far, 184 people have graduated from Foster City's two-year- old CERT program, which teaches techniques ranging from medical triage to putting out small fires to basic search and rescue. Fire Chief Tom Reaves said it's a big help to the professionals to know there are people out there who can pitch in when a disaster happens.

The latest class of 22 students graduated Monday night, and the next course begins April 30. E-mail fire@fostercity.org for more information.

E-mail Will Oremus at woremus@dailynewsgroup.com.