Clinton man honored by Mayor Terry Frank for life-saving measures

  • Clinton resident Kyle Case (holding plaque) was recent- ly honored by Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank (far right). Case, a former paramedic and current emergency room travel nurse, recently assisted local first responders who answered an E-911 medical call at the home of his neighbor, Chalice Bingham (center, in ball cap). Case and Bingham are pictured with members of their families. - Anderson County Government

  • This display, depicting Normal Rockwell’s famous paintings of the four freedoms, is part of the Smithsonian Institution exhibit “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” which is currently on display at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center. - Anderson County Government

Kyle Case, a resident of Clinton, recently was honored by Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank for his efforts to assist in a E-911 medical call at the home of Case’s neighbor, Chalice Bingham.

Frank proclaimed Saturday, March 25, as Kyle Case Day in Anderson County.

Case, accompanied by his family and Chalice Bingham and his family members, received the proclamation plaque at the courthouse.

Bingham had been working on a project in the back yard at his home one day in early November when he collapsed with excruciating chest pain. His wife helped him to the car in the garage and, noticing he was experiencing continued chest pain, she dialed 911.

As first responders arrived at Bingham’s home, Case’s wife noticed the fire truck in the driveway and called her husband, who was on his way home with the couple’s children.

As soon as Case arrived at home, he said, he walked over to the Binghams’ residence, spoke to the first responders, and immediately stepped in to help.

Case is a former paramedic and a current emergency room travel nurse.

“It’s part of my training,” he said. “It’s my nature. Even if I’m off-duty, if someone needs help, I’m going to render aid.”

He said he saw Bingham sitting in the passenger seat of the car: “He had an ashen-gray look, which isn’t good.”

Case said he checked Bingham’s wrist for his pulse, adding that “It was very low.”

He said he then worked with the first responders to move Bingham from the car to the floor of the garage, and his training and skills kicked in further.

He said he ran an IV line and administered fluids.

When EMS arrived, Kyle said, he jumped in the back of the ambulance with Bingham and told the crew everything he knew about his situation, thereby expediting the EMS team’s treatment.

That included a 12-lead electrocardiogram, a test that shows the electrical activity of the heart. Case said the test results indicated Bingham was suffering a major heart attack.

Bingham was transported to Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, where, according to the ICU doctor, the quick and knowledgeable actions of his neighbor saved his life.

Case said that while he was glad to be there to help, “just being able to see Chalice come home, and to see him walking around, and talking to him -- I’m glad I was home that day.

“Yes, I had a hand in it, but ultimately, God is in control. Just the fact that Chalice is home and doing better is reward enough for me.”