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Tag: AED

  • ‘Fight or flight takes over’: Transportation employees save cardiac arrest victim’s life

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    A Vermont man is lucky to be alive after collapsing from cardiac arrest in August. This week, he finally got the chance to thank the people who saved him.Bob Fenoff, 67, was working on a wall in his office when he said he suddenly blacked out and collapsed. Fenoff’s office is connected to the garage, which he leases to the Vermont transportation agency, VTRANS. “I just lost consciousness and that was it. Ended up on the floor,” Fenoff said.Two VTRANS employees, Noah Royer and John McClure, immediately jumped into action. They dialed 911 and began performing CPR — skills they had learned through mandatory workplace training.“Even though it doesn’t train you for moments like that, it gives you the basics,” Royer said. “Fight or flight takes over from there.”First responders arrived minutes later. Paramedics used a defibrillator to restart Fenoff’s heart. He spent two weeks in a coma before waking up and is now expected to make a full recovery.“If it had not been for the brave and immediate actions of Noah Royer and John McClure, I do not think that Mr. Fenoff would be standing in front of us today,” Keith Feddersen, a paramedic with CALEX Ambulance, said.Fenoff and his wife, Kathy, say they can’t express enough gratitude for the lifesaving efforts.“I’d thank you a hundred times — can’t thank you enough,” Kathy said.First responders hope Fenoff’s story will inspire others to learn CPR and AED use.“Getting certified is vitally important,” Capt. Phil Hawthorne of the St. Johnsbury Fire Department said. “This case really proves it.”

    A Vermont man is lucky to be alive after collapsing from cardiac arrest in August. This week, he finally got the chance to thank the people who saved him.

    Bob Fenoff, 67, was working on a wall in his office when he said he suddenly blacked out and collapsed. Fenoff’s office is connected to the garage, which he leases to the Vermont transportation agency, VTRANS.

    “I just lost consciousness and that was it. Ended up on the floor,” Fenoff said.

    Two VTRANS employees, Noah Royer and John McClure, immediately jumped into action. They dialed 911 and began performing CPR — skills they had learned through mandatory workplace training.

    “Even though it doesn’t train you for moments like that, it gives you the basics,” Royer said. “Fight or flight takes over from there.”

    First responders arrived minutes later. Paramedics used a defibrillator to restart Fenoff’s heart. He spent two weeks in a coma before waking up and is now expected to make a full recovery.

    “If it had not been for the brave and immediate actions of Noah Royer and John McClure, I do not think that Mr. Fenoff would be standing in front of us today,” Keith Feddersen, a paramedic with CALEX Ambulance, said.

    Fenoff and his wife, Kathy, say they can’t express enough gratitude for the lifesaving efforts.

    “I’d thank you a hundred times — can’t thank you enough,” Kathy said.

    First responders hope Fenoff’s story will inspire others to learn CPR and AED use.

    “Getting certified is vitally important,” Capt. Phil Hawthorne of the St. Johnsbury Fire Department said. “This case really proves it.”

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  • Stillwater football player saved by AED after going into cardiac arrest

    Stillwater football player saved by AED after going into cardiac arrest

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    STILLWATER, Minn. — The gridiron is where winners are crowned and incredible comebacks happen.

    Stillwater High School Sophomore Keegan Hawke has one great comeback story.

    On Sept. 24, Hawke went into cardiac arrest and collapsed during football practice.

    “All I remember is him saying ‘coach, coach,’ then he’s right in front of me on the ground,” said Assistant Coach Matt Hemenway.

    With no pulse and no time to spare, coaches and athletic trainers jumped into action with a critical piece of equipment and saved his life.

    Stillwater High School Athletic Trainers Olivia Dubois and Mike Renfro started CPR while preparing the Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

    “Knew he didn’t have a pulse, wasn’t breathing. We knew we needed the AED,” Dubois said. “It advised a shock. We pressed a button to administer a shock,” added Renfro.

    The AED did what it was supposed to, restarted Hawke’s heart as he was rushed to Regions Hospital.

    After days in the hospital, he was diagnosed with an uncommon heart rhythm that doctors hadn’t detected before when he went to get checked for an irregular heart beat.

    “When playing sports, my heart would go from normal to super-fast but it would go away,” Hawke said.

    After 72 hours in an induced coma and a total of 11 days in various hospitals—Keegan returned home Friday with a device that’ll monitor his heart and deliver a shock if and when he needs it.

    “Really grateful, very thankful for my teammates and coaches and trainers that helped me,” Keegan said.

    Katie Hawke credits the quick use of the AED for saving Hawke’s life.

    “We want to create awareness that this can really happen to anyone at any age,” Katie said.

    Hawke’s family is ready to champion for the miracles of that day and a lifetime with their son.

    “We want to make sure anyone who’s coaching sports, at grocery store, anywhere knows CPR and how to work an AED,” Katie said.

    An online fundraiser has raised nearly $5,000 for that goal.

    On Friday, Hawke was back on the field to thank the trainers that saved him and see the friends he missed dearly.

    Keegan is bummed he can’t play football anymore, but he’s still going to be on the sidelines for his Stillwater teammates.

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    Ubah Ali

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  • Cardiac arrest in youth athletes is rare, but does happen. Here’s how to be prepared.

    Cardiac arrest in youth athletes is rare, but does happen. Here’s how to be prepared.

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    When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during a football game Monday night after suffering a cardiac arrest, Heather O’Donnell said it confirmed her greatest fear. 

    “It was like watching my worst nightmare,” said Heather O’Donnell, whose 10-year-old son, Jack, plays hockey in Virginia. “He could get hit in the wrong place. Something could happen. No sport is 100% safe.” 

    About 60 million kids in the U.S. participate in organized sports, and cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among young athletes. 

    Dr. Korin Hudson, a MedStar Health emergency physician, said what happened to Hamlin can “absolutely” happen to a child. 

    “It can happen at any time,” said Hudson, who works with teams like the Washington Wizards and Capitals. “[It’s] very rare, but we do know it may happen as frequently as once every five days.”

    “Now, there are a lot of athletes in high school and collegiate sports in this country,” Hudson said. “But once every five days is probably more often than we think about.”

    Hudson said the best way to be prepared for the potential is to have the training and equipment necessary to respond. 


    How to use an AED by
    CBS Evening News on
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    That equipment includes an AED — an automated external defibrillator. If used within the first minute, chances of survival are close to 90% 

    Hudson said parents should know where the closest AED is, always have a way to dial 911, ask coaches if they know CPR, and make sure their school or club has an emergency action plan. 

    “You can learn how to use an AED in less than two minutes,” Hudson said. “Anybody can do these skills.” 

    The American Heart Association offers online courses teaching CPR and how to use an AED, Hudson said. 

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