Phoenix: Honorary crew chief

Phoenix Woman Who Saved Heart Attack Victim Spends Bachelorette Weekend as NASCAR Honorary Crew Chief For ExtenZe Racing at Phoenix International Raceway

Abby Barker Rendered Aid to Bank Customer When Woman Went Into Full Cardiac Arrest

STATESVILLE, NC (April 6, 2010) - The first woman to be named an 'ExtenZe Local Hero,' Abby Barker called upon her CPR training to save a person who had suffered a massive heart attack. For her decisive and life-saving effort, 27-year-old Barker will be the ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chief at Phoenix International Raceway for the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup event that takes place the same weekend as her wedding -- thus creating perhaps the most unique bachelorette send-off of all time.

Barker was working in October 2009 at a bank outside of Phoenix in Gilbert, Arizona, when an elderly woman entered the building. The customer was seated and speaking with a bank employee when she suddenly slumped over and became unresponsive. A teller ran to the breakroom where Barker was sitting with an assistant manager and announced that a customer was in trouble. The two women immediately jumped into action with the assistant manager dialing 911 as Barker hurried to the ailing victim.

Drawing upon CPR training she learned four years earlier, Barker checked the woman's vital signs and realized the victim wasn't breathing and had no pulse. With help, Barker was able to move the victim to the floor, made sure the woman's airway was clear, and began a hands-only CPR procedure. Oddly, Barker had recently been reminded of proper CPR technique thanks to the television sitcom "The Office." The show reminded her that the Bee Gee's song "Stayin' Alive" provides the perfect pace for chest compressions. Sure enough, Barker began singing the '70s tune loudly to keep a steady beat as she pushed down on the victim's heart. For about five minutes Barker kept blood pumping through the woman's body until police and paramedics arrived. The rescue team asked Barker to keep up her rhythm as they prepped the patient for transport. Soon the paramedics took over and whisked the victim away to a local hospital.

Barker is to be married the day after she attends the NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Phoenix International Raceway as the ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chief. In attendance at the wedding will be the woman whose life Barker saved.

"When I learned of Abby's heroic act I was impressed by the composure and inner strength she showed in an emergency situation," said Kevin Conway, driver of the ExtenZe Racing No. 37 Ford Fusion and leading Raybestos Rookie of the Year candidate. "I'm excited to have Abby cheering us on at Phoenix International Raceway and honored she decided to spend her final days as a bachelorette with us. Everyone at ExtenZe Racing wishes Abby and her groom nothing but happiness and we hope to make her wedding weekend uniquely memorable."

The 'ExtenZe Local Hero' program pays tribute to people who have gone to great lengths to make a difference. Those selected have faced danger, sacrificed their own safety for others or in some way displayed leadership that changed their community for the better. Award recipients become ExtenZe Racing Honorary Crew Chiefs, receive a tour of the paddock, attend the pre-race NASCAR Driver/Crew Chief meeting, and sit atop the pit box with Crew Chief Peter Sospenzo to root on rookie driver Kevin Conway piloting the royal blue and red No. 37 ExtenZe Ford Fusion. Each recipient also receives a $1,000 award from ExtenZe, the world's best selling male enhancement product, in recognition of their selflessness.

-source: exclaim racing