Resident aims to educate on posting emergency information

By Jennifer Jimenez
Mail | X: @SCW_Independent

In the normal evening hours a Sun City West couple went from enjoying time with a friend to a medical emergency.

After dinner, John Zimmerman, his wife and friend were playing cards when they noticed the friend did not look right and was not responding. A call to emergency services was immediately placed, but the pair quickly realized they had several challenges ahead.

“We were trying to find the kids’  names or phone numbers and that was a nightmare and the EMTs asked  us what medications she was on before they began working on her,” he said.

Zimmerman said medication lists and emergency contact information is not something he ever thought about, but this event has forced him and his wife to prioritize this information and want others in the community to do the same.

He said he never believed how fast a true medical emergency could happen. One second the trio was enjoying a card game and the next, the friend was unable to function. The friend had suffered a stroke, according to Zimmerman.

“Had we not been there, she would have died. She lives alone and no one would have been able to help her,” said Zimmerman.

Zimmerman suggests keeping emergency contact names and phone numbers in case of an emergency and a current list of medications inside a kitchen cabinet on the actual door. He said this can be easily accessed by emergency service personnel.

Zimmerman and his wife began rifling through mail to try to find something with an address, since they only had it in their GPS. They were unable to get into her phone due to the password. The pair located an old Rolodex and notified her daughters on where she was transported and reunited with her family.

Reporter Jennifer Jimenez can be reached at jjimenez@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Jennifer Jimenez
Reporter | Sun City West

jjimenez@iniusa.org

Meet Jennifer

In 2020, Jennifer Jimenez began working for Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA. She began her career as a sports reporter in Peoria and Glendale, covering the very same schools she used to compete at.  During this time, she also worked for television news, magazines and sports radio stations.

Community: Jennifer is a member of the Hall of Fame at Peoria High School where she graduated in 2001, alongside her father Joe Hernandez. She serves youth soccer players as a pro-trainer and coach.  

Education: Grand Canyon University 2005 B.A. Liberal Arts

Ranom Fact: She has a street named after her in south Peoria “Jennifer Rose Court.”

Hobbies: Country dancing, coaching soccer, teaching private swim lessons and running are things she does for fun.