Madison Fire Department Honors 'Community Hero' for Lifesaving CPR

Miriam Navin's quick action helped save a life at a local coffee shop.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

When a customer at a Madison coffee shop suddenly collapsed from cardiac arrest, Miriam Navin, who was trained in hands-only CPR, immediately went to the person's side and began performing continuous chest compressions until emergency responders arrived. Thanks to Navin's quick thinking and lifesaving actions, the patient was eventually able to leave the hospital fully recovered.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of bystander CPR training and the PulsePoint app, which can alert nearby citizens when someone is in cardiac arrest and needs immediate assistance. The Madison Fire Department is encouraging more community members to learn hands-only CPR and download the PulsePoint app to be prepared to save lives.

The details

When the customer collapsed at the local coffee shop, Miriam Navin, who was trained in hands-only CPR, immediately went to the person's side and began performing continuous chest compressions. Within four minutes, Engine 4 arrived on the scene to take over high-performance CPR, followed shortly by Medic 6 and Ladder 1 with additional medical support. Thanks to Navin's quick action, the patient was eventually able to leave the hospital 100% neurologically intact.

  • On the day of the incident at the Madison coffee shop.
  • Weeks after the incident, Engine 4 ('B' shift) visited Miriam Navin at her workplace to present her with a 'Community Hero' challenge coin.

The players

Miriam Navin

A Madison resident who was trained in hands-only CPR and immediately sprang into action to perform lifesaving chest compressions when a customer at a local coffee shop collapsed from cardiac arrest.

Madison Fire Department

The fire department that responded to the cardiac arrest incident at the Madison coffee shop, with Engine 4, Medic 6, and Ladder 1 arriving on the scene to provide high-performance CPR and medical support.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Madison Fire Department is encouraging more community members to learn hands-only CPR and download the PulsePoint app to be prepared to save lives in the event of a cardiac emergency.

The takeaway

This story highlights the life-saving impact that bystanders can have when they are trained in hands-only CPR and willing to act quickly in an emergency. The Madison Fire Department's recognition of Miriam Navin as a 'Community Hero' serves as an inspiration for others to get trained and be prepared to save lives.