By Donna Thornton/News Editor
You don’t have to find a hero in a bat cave, or a phone booth. Sometimes a hero can be as close as the next chair in the beauty salon, or may be found standing behind one of those chairs with the tools of the stylists’ trade in her hand.
Fortunately for a client at Beauty Ovations salon on Broad Street in Gadsden, a hero was that close on July 5.
On that day, a gentleman at the salon began to have shortness of breath and lost consciousness. It was later determined that he suffered a heart attack.
Charlie Jean Jenkins was getting her hair done at Beauty Ovations that day, and she took action quickly. With more than 30 years experience as a licensed practical nurse, Jenkins started CPR while Beauty Ovations owner Rhonda Turner called 911.
An ambulance arrived and took the man to the emergency room; the crew later told Jenkins that without her quick action, that gentleman most likely would not have survived.
Jenkins said that it was a team effort with Turner and Gwendolyn Howell, stylist at Beauty Ovations helping.
Downtown Gadsden, Inc. named Charlie Jean Jenkins as a Downtown Hero and presented her with a framed certificate.
“We are grateful for Ms. Jenkins quick action,” DGI Executive Director Kay Moore said.
As for the man she assisted, Turner said he’s recovering well.
“He’s doing fine,” Turner said. “He’s already come back in to get his hair done.”