Fallon teen saves child’s life with CPR

What was supposed to be a relaxing end to the weekend turned into a moment of heroism for a local teen Sunday afternoon.

Churchill County High School junior Aevan Payne had just settled into one of the smaller hot tubs with her family at Carson Hot Springs when she heard someone screaming for help from the main pool in the back.

“This lady just started screaming her head off and I’m like ‘Oh my god, what’s happening?’” Payne said. “I look up and she’s swinging around this little boy that was lifeless in her arms. She’s screaming ‘Help! Help! God help my son!’ I didn’t even think about it, I just got up and ran over there.”

Payne immediately started CPR on the approximately 3-year-old boy. He revived after a few rounds of the chest compressions and breaths. Payne helped him roll to one side where he vomited. The unidentified family left in an ambulance shortly after the boy regained consciousness.

“I'm still astounded that she took initiative so quickly,” said Laura Engleman, Payne’s mother. “It was quite miraculous to witness.”

Payne said she has always been someone who pays attention to medical information, such as how to help when someone is experiencing symptoms of a possible heart attack. She learned the specifics of CPR several summers ago when she worked as a counselor in the Churchill County C.A.R.E. SUMFUN program.

She doesn’t see herself following a path to a medical career, though. After graduation next year Payne hopes to attend the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno.

In Laurel Topken’s English 101 class, Payne said they had recently learned about the “bystander effect” – a phenomenon in which people fail to offer needed help in emergencies, especially when other people are present. After the recent experience, she realized she had seen it in action.

“To be frank, it made me a little bit angry,” she said. “Everyone was just standing there and watching it happen. It really broke my heart.”

A representative from Carson Hot Springs confirmed over the phone the incident had occurred and that a citizen, not an employee, had responded. Signs posted at the entrance state no lifeguards are on duty. Payne did not see whether the boy was wearing a life jacket or arm floaties prior to the emergency.