Last month several runners collapsed during the Market Square Day 10K. One suffered Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
You can read the story in the Portsmouth Herald
In yesterday’s CPR by Donation class one of the participants in the class mentioned that she was there. She didn’t assist with CPR, and not because she didn’t want to. She said that there were so many people there already helping him it just made sense to stand back and wait to see if she was indeed needed. She said bystanders started Hands-Only CPR right away and that after the Portsmouth Fire Department used their defibrillator the runner was conscious when placed in the ambulance. Last I had heard from other sources is that he is recovering well.
This is great news! Early onset of Hands-Only CPR works.
But the most rewarding part of the story for me is that so many people jumped in to help. No one was afraid to help someone, a total stranger, a runner in a race, when he needed help the most. This man is alive and recovering well due to the hands and hearts of bystanders who were just watching a race go by. They are the winners of the day.
Great story. The Boston Athletic Association provided hands-only CPR instruction to runners and volunteers of this years Boston Marathon. Hands only CPR is so simple and could make the difference in saving a runner’s – or bystander’s – life when seconds count. http://www.cpr.com/2012/04/09/boston-marathon-hands-only-cpr-instructional-video
Thanks for sharing Tim! I didn’t realize the BAA did that. I help organize a road race and we’re looking at how can we be more prepared for emergencies on the course.
The first aid courses is very important for everyone. Through this we can help other people and save their life.CPR traning give the knowledge how to save the life of another and how to help the other people. You can visit our site for more information about CPR.
Thanks Mark. You’re right First Aid and CPR AED classes are important for everyone to learn. I’ll apologize, but I took the link to your website out of your comment. Why did I do that? Because it was to a website that had online-only ‘certification’ classes with no hands on component. If you had read this post you would have realized the post was about Hands Only CPR, not about online sham certifications. To protect you I removed the link so you would not appear as spamming my blog with comments directing readers to your own website that will take their money, provide an online course and issue a ‘card’ they can print at home that no one will accept. My apologies if you are unhappy with my decision, but I felt it necessary to maintain the integrity of my blog. I agree that CPR AED and First Aid courses provide the knowledge that can be used to help and save the lives of others; and that’s why I teach what I do.