Congressman Ruiz assists collapsed veteran at Veterans University
Congressman Raul Ruiz assisted a man who collapsed on Saturday morning at Veterans University.
“A veteran, a gentleman, collapsed and I was called to attend to him. I went as soon as I could and took care of him,” said Congressman Ruiz.
Ruiz was seen tending to the man and communicating with 911 until emergency vehicles arrived on scene.
“I think he was recovering well. He was taken to the local emergency department and I pray that he will recover and that the doctors and nurses there will take really good care of him,” said Dr. Ruiz.
It was the fourth annual Veterans University, where veterans, service members, their families, and the community are provided with information, training, and resources from experts from more than a dozen organizations including the Loma Linda VA Medical Center, Riverside County Veterans Services, Riverside National Cemetery, and other veteran service organizations about the benefits and services available to our veterans.
Before his election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Ruiz held various positions in the medical field, including work as an Emergency Room doctor at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.
While he is no longer in the ER full time, his Harvard medical degree is still coming in handy.
This is far from first time the Congressman has jumped in to aid someone unexpectedly.
In 2013, Dr. Ruiz assisted a passenger who collapsed on a flight from Washington, D.C. to Texas. The flight was diverted due to the emergency.
Nearly a year later, Ruiz helped stabilize a woman who suffered a seizure while on a flight bound for Phoenix.
In December of 2017, again on an airplane, a passenger needed help, and Dr. Ruiz was there. Ruiz was seated in the same row as a passenger who seriously cut his finger. According to his office, Ruiz cleaned the wound, applied pressure, made an on-the-spot dressing with gauze, and controlled the bleeding. He then helped the passenger keep the wound elevated. The flight took off shortly afterwards.
In March of this year, Dr. Ruiz provided medical assistance to an ailing passenger while on his flight from Dallas to Palm Springs.
Watch News Channel 3 at 4:30pm for the latest information on today’s incident.
