Guardian Interview with Resusci Anne

The Life and Times of Resusci Annie Guardian Interview with Resusci Anne Laerdal

The USMRA Guardian staff caught up to Resusci-Annie at the Carmi, Illinois Holiday Inn for this tell-all interview in August 2001.

Resusci Anne Laerdal

Birthday: February 18, 1960

Birthplace: Stavenger, Norway

Education: Graduate - Clarksburg, WV Beauty Academy

Height: 4 ft. 8 in.

Weight: 30 lbs.

Likes: Soft hands, Tic Tacs, Listerine, any brand of deodorant, and the Temptations. Dislikes: Smokeless tobacco, cheap cologne, facial hair, callouses, and movie sequels.

Guardian:
Annie, much has been written about you looking like the drowned girl pulled from the River Seine in France.  All the stories seem to come from your father, Asmund S. Laerdal.  We'd like to hear your take on this subject.

Annie:

Well alright, but this is the only question I'll answer having anything to do with him.  You see, this is the reason we're not speaking.

I was in my second year at the beauty academy in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where I made friends with Bebe Policano, who was the daughter of the academy owner.

I had always considered myself to be fairly attractive, except for one feature . . . my nose.  Not rhino-like mind you, but I always hoped it would be smaller.

At the urging of my friend Bebe, I made arrangements for the operation.  What I didn't know at the time was that my father and Dr. Noselifter were beer drinking buddies at the Elks.

My father had always been enamoured with a photo of the death mask of that French girl, and he talked Noselifter to do what he could with my face to make it resemble hers.

Days after the surgery, it was time to remove the bandages.  I was horrified!  And when I learned my father had a hand in it, I let him have it and we haven't talked since.  That's really all I'd like to say about that.

Guardian:
The exploits of your children are very well know.  Can you tell us more about them?

Annie:

Actually I have four children and love them all very much.  And no, I'm not married and never have been.

My first born's (Junior) father and I had talked about marriage but shortly after the birth, he was killed in a freak amusement park accident.  I loved him very much and miss him a lot.

Two years after Andy (Junior) was born, I had the twins.  Annette is a happily married homemaker with two children of her own living in Minneapolis.  Her brother, Antoine, unfortunately has had troubles.  He got involved with drugs and is currently serving 5-10 in Huntingdon, PA.  He's up for parole in 8 months.  We're all praying for him.

Time passed and I was really involved in the CPR thing.  We were doing training for a Peabody mine in Western Kentucky when things went a little whacky.

It was our last day and the class was unusually large as we had to catch the miners who were unable to attend earlier in the week.  Normally I can handle my alchohol wipes, but with the extra trainees, I really tied one on that day.

Baby was conceived right there on the training room floor.  I don't even remember the father's name.  I have no regrets though, and love baby dearly.

Of the three of us in the business, Baby's future is probably most secure.  Lately most of my time is taken up managing his hectic schedule.

Guardian:

Annie, you and your family have literally changed the face of emergency medical care.  Do you have any regrets?

Annie:

Regrets? No, not really.  But like anything else, there's always one or two things I might have done differently.

Early on my work was a real joy.  We focused our efforts educating health care professionals; doctors, nurses, paramedics, and so on.

Then it changed to educating the masses and in my opinion things began to take a turn for the worse.  I think the main problem was that we set the bar too high.  Now don't get me wrong, I think everyone should have a sound understanding of good health and be able to recognize the symtoms of a heart attack.  But what this meant for me was a lot of personal hardship, plus the mental and physical stress just trying to maintain the grueling pace.

Guardian:

I detect a great deal of resentment to the initiatives of the AHA and the Red Cross.  Could you be more specific?

Annie:

Well Doug, first I'd like to make it clear that I think what occurred after the subject came out in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) was monumental.

As I stated before, early on it was a pleasure working with health care pros.  The problem for me started when every Tom, Dick, and Harriett got involved.  When this mixed bag came in, they brought with them their paranoia and misplaced social values that completely took the program 180°.

All the discussion about Good Samaritan legislation, STDs, and other aspects of liability became such a distraction, it almost ruined the program.

Add to that persons coming into the classroom that didn't really want to be there, it all produced some very difficult training scenarios.  Not everyone has the constitution, let alone the need for CPR.  Training those that want to be trained is where we should direct our efforts.

Guardian:

Annie, we've all come to identify you in your trademark outfit, the blue jogging suit and sneakers.  Do you ever get dolled up and paint the town?

Annie:

Paint the town !!??!!  Who are you kidding?  My life revolves revolves around that damn box.  I'm either in it or out for brief periods waiting to go back in.

I would just die to go shopping for a nice pair of pumps.  I've tried repeatedly for a change of wardrobe, but nobody listens.  Look at me.  I'm a jogger!  Do I look like someone about to experience an MI (myocardial infarction)?  I don't think so!

I'm still lobbying for them to bring Resusci-Gramps into the program.  I think the realism of his 5-day stubble growth, degenerative rib cage and the omni-present odor of Polygrip™ would greatly enhance what we're trying to accomplish.  Gramps agrees, but, as you see, it's just me and the kids.

Guardian:

Since you seem to be phasing yourself out of your role in CPR training, what direction will you be taking from here?

Annie:

Helping others has always appealed to me.  While I will always continue my work in the delivery of CPR, I do plan to back off quite a bit.

I'm really interested in the plight of the human spirit, globally.  The current situation in Russia is incredibly tragic.  I'm hopeful that I can help and to this end I've been in contact with our State Department for guidance.  If all goes well, I'll be traveling to Chechnya to offer my assistance.

Editor's Note:  Month's after this interview, Annie did indeed travel to Chechnya to take a stand against the Russian government of President Vladimir Putin.  In late October 2002, she was one of 50 "terrorists" killed by Russian soldiers ( see photo and story) when they resumed control of the Moscow theatre. Of the 700 plus hostages taken in the seige, 117 were killed.

Guardian:	Annie, much has been written about you looking like the drowned girl pulled from the River Seine in France. All the stories seem to come from your father, Asmund S. Laerdal. We'd like to hear your take on this subject.
Annie:	Well alright, but this is the only question I'll answer having anything to do with him. You see, this is the reason we're not speaking. I was in my second year at the beauty academy in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where I made friends with Bebe Policano, who was the daughter of the academy owner. I had always considered myself to be fairly attractive, except for one feature . . . my nose. Not rhino-like mind you, but I always hoped it would be smaller. At the urging of my friend Bebe, I made arrangements for the operation. What I didn't know at the time was that my father and Dr. Noselifter were beer drinking buddies at the Elks. My father had always been enamoured with a photo of the death mask of that French girl, and he talked Noselifter to do what he could with my face to make it resemble hers. Days after the surgery, it was time to remove the bandages. I was horrified! And when I learned my father had a hand in it, I let him have it and we haven't talked since. That's really all I'd like to say about that.

Guardian:	The exploits of your children are very well know. Can you tell us more about them?
Annie:	Actually I have four children and love them all very much. And no, I'm not married and never have been. My first born's (Junior) father and I had talked about marriage but shortly after the birth, he was killed in a freak amusement park accident. I loved him very much and miss him a lot. Two years after Andy (Junior) was born, I had the twins. Annette is a happily married homemaker with two children of her own living in Minneapolis. Her brother, Antoine, unfortunately has had troubles. He got involved with drugs and is currently serving 5-10 in Huntingdon, PA. He's up for parole in 8 months. We're all praying for him. Time passed and I was really involved in the CPR thing. We were doing training for a Peabody mine in Western Kentucky when things went a little whacky. It was our last day and the class was unusually large as we had to catch the miners who were unable to attend earlier in the week. Normally I can handle my alchohol wipes, but with the extra trainees, I really tied one on that day. Baby was conceived right there on the training room floor. I don't even remember the father's name. I have no regrets though, and love baby dearly. Of the three of us in the business, Baby's future is probably most secure. Lately most of my time is taken up managing his hectic schedule.

Guardian:	Annie, you and your family have literally changed the face of emergency medical care. Do you have any regrets?
Annie:	Regrets? No, not really. But like anything else, there's always one or two things I might have done differently. Early on my work was a real joy. We focused our efforts educating health care professionals; doctors, nurses, paramedics, and so on. Then it changed to educating the masses and in my opinion things began to take a turn for the worse. I think the main problem was that we set the bar too high. Now don't get me wrong, I think everyone should have a sound understanding of good health and be able to recognize the symtoms of a heart attack. But what this meant for me was a lot of personal hardship, plus the mental and physical stress just trying to maintain the grueling pace.

Guardian:	I detect a great deal of resentment to the initiatives of the AHA and the Red Cross. Could you be more specific?
Annie:	Well Doug, first I'd like to make it clear that I think what occurred after the subject came out in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) was monumental. As I stated before, early on it was a pleasure working with health care pros. The problem for me started when every Tom, Dick, and Harriett got involved. When this mixed bag came in, they brought with them their paranoia and misplaced social values that completely took the program 180°. All the discussion about Good Samaritan legislation, STDs, and other aspects of liability became such a distraction, it almost ruined the program. Add to that persons coming into the classroom that didn't really want to be there, it all produced some very difficult training scenarios. Not everyone has the constitution, let alone the need for CPR. Training those that want to be trained is where we should direct our efforts.

Guardian:	Annie, we've all come to identify you in your trademark outfit, the blue jogging suit and sneakers. Do you ever get dolled up and paint the town?
Annie:	Paint the town !!??!! Who are you kidding? My life revolves revolves around that damn box. I'm either in it or out for brief periods waiting to go back in. I would just die to go shopping for a nice pair of pumps. I've tried repeatedly for a change of wardrobe, but nobody listens. Look at me. I'm a jogger! Do I look like someone about to experience an MI (myocardial infarction)? I don't think so! I'm still lobbying for them to bring Resusci-Gramps into the program. I think the realism of his 5-day stubble growth, degenerative rib cage and the omni-present odor of Polygrip™ would greatly enhance what we're trying to accomplish. Gramps agrees, but, as you see, it's just me and the kids.

Guardian:	Since you seem to be phasing yourself out of your role in CPR training, what direction will you be taking from here?
Annie:	Helping others has always appealed to me. While I will always continue my work in the delivery of CPR, I do plan to back off quite a bit. I'm really interested in the plight of the human spirit, globally. The current situation in Russia is incredibly tragic. I'm hopeful that I can help and to this end I've been in contact with our State Department for guidance. If all goes well, I'll be traveling to Chechnya to offer my assistance.

Editor's Note: Month's after this interview, Annie did indeed travel to Chechnya to take a stand against the Russian government of President Vladimir Putin. In late October 2002, she was one of 50 "terrorists" killed by Russian soldiers ( see photo and story) when they resumed control of the Moscow theatre. Of the 700 plus hostages taken in the seige, 117 were killed.