Foreigners, locals help out elderly lady who collapsed

Foreigners and local residents joined forces to help out an elderly woman who collapsed at People's Square metro station Thursday morning, local media reported.

Two foreigners, a local girl and a local man helped comfort an elderly woman who unexpectedly keeled over at a security checkpoint at People's Square Station around 8:45 am, according to a report on the news website xinmin.cn.

The two foreigners, who reportedly knew the basics of first aid, placed their bags under the woman's head and spoke to her through the local girl, who served as a translator, the report said.

The local man, who said he was a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, gave the woman a pressure point massage.

Metro staff and police kept order and waited for emergency medical personnel to arrive, the report said.

Responding paramedics found that the woman's blood pressure was slightly higher than normal, said a metro staff member surnamed Xu. The woman refused medical treatment and left the station on her own.

"At People's Square Station, we have some sweets on-site for those who skipped breakfast and feel sick," Xu told the Global Times. "Our staff is able to judge whether someone is in need of emergency medical treatment and will decide whether to call an ambulance."