A Pennsylvania congressman may have helped save a man's life Wednesday afternoon on Capitol Hill.
On his way to a meeting, Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pennsylvania, found a man unconscious and face down in a pool of blood in an elevator near Murphy's office.
Murphy acted quickly.
"Your muscle memory kicks in and you just know you have an emergency situation where you have to do something," Murphy said.
With the help of two of his staff members, the congressman was able to maintain CPR for about 15 minutes before an ambulance arrived.
"My mother was a nurse and made sure we had some training when we were younger," Murphy said. "As a Navy reservist medical, I have to be trained in this too."
Unlike Murphy, 70 percent of Americans feel helpless to act during cardiac emergencies because they don't know CPR or their training lapsed, according to the American Heart Association.
Murphy said he wants to help raise awareness on the importance of getting certified and expanding access to defibrillators.
"It doesn't take a lot of time out of your life to do it, but it makes a lifetime of difference for someone whose life is saved," Murphy said.
Murphy talked to the brother of the man he helped, who told Murphy he is in critical, but stable condition.
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