After Trump supporter collapses, protestors provide care

That’s what retired Kenosha nurse Pat Ventura said shortly after providing emergency care to a man who collapsed Tuesday during President Donald Trump’s visit to Kenosha.

Trump, who made his first visit to Wisconsin since becoming president, spoke at Snap-on headquarters, 2801 80th St. Outside, nearby streets were packed with anti-Trump activists and steadfast supporters. The man, whose name and condition were not immediately available, collapsed around 1:30 p.m. and was lying on 80th Street when at least three health care professionals rushed over to provide care.

“Somebody said, ‘Hey, Pat. Somebody’s on the ground over there.’ I took off running,” said Ventura, who taught nursing for 10 years. “His phone was broken, because when he fell that fell out of his pocket, and he told us (his wife’s) name. Some young kid had to help me turn the phone on. We found his wife’s name and we called her.”

Ventura briefed the man’s wife on his condition and waited with him until emergency crews arrived to transport him to a local hospital.

“He was awake and talking. He got dizzy, he said,” Ventura recalled.

When he was taken away, Ventura rejoined a group of anti-Trump protestors.

“I hope he has a good health care plan,” Ventura joked.

Ana Draa, of Libertyville, Ill., also assisted the man.

“I wanted to keep him calm while they got him professional help,” said Draa, a former CPR instructor.

“We’re on polar opposite sides of the political fence. I go to Planned Parenthood luncheons and his sign was all about defunding Planned Parenthood,” Draa said. “At the end of the day, he’s God’s child. He’s somebody’s daddy, somebody’s husband, somebody’s father.”

Draa said she spent the morning talking with the man and respected him.

“Him and I had been talking because he hadn’t been feeling well,” Draa said. “I told him I respect him coming out here and speaking his voice, a lot more than the people who just complain and don’t go do anything, don’t vote. At least he’s out here doing something, even if I don’t agree with it.”

They weren’t the only women to respond.

Mary, who declined to give her last name, lives in Kenosha and stopped to see what the commotion was. She said she was making her way through the crowd when she saw the man had collapsed.

“I came across the street because I didn’t know if there was anybody here who knew how to help,” said Mary, a registered nurse. “Sometimes when you have non-medical people, they can do more harm than help. I just didn’t want him to be moved.”

Mary, who has a background in open heart/critical care nursing, said she was “just doing what any medical person would do. I don’t care what’s going on.”