A high school student in Ohio was saved by a coach and athletic trainer after collapsing at his track practice.
The student, Caleb Perkins, went into full cardiac arrest March 18 during practice at Revere High School in Richfield. Paramedics said later that without the quick actions of his track coach, whose name has not been released, Perkins may have died, according to newsnet5.com.
The coach saw Perkins collapse on the track and told other students to get the athletic trainer and an automated external defibrillator, or AED. While the coach waited for the trainer, he performed CPR on Perkins.
The athletic trainer shocked Perkins’ heart with the defibrillator once, and responding EMS shocked it once more when they arrived.
Bath Township Fire Department Lieutenant George Seifert said after the second shock the boy regained a pulse. Seifert praised the actions of the coach and athletic trainer.
“Quick CPR is key in sudden cardiac events, and then the application use of the AED only enhances the chances of survival,” Seifert said.
Retired Cardiologist Dr. Terry Gordon said every minute a person in cardiac arrest doesn’t get treatment with an AED their chances of survival decrease by ten percent.
Gordon is one of many medical professionals who believe all public schools should have AED’s on hand.
“Children do have cardiac arrest and the only good treatment is an AED,” Gordon said.
Perkins was taken to Akron Children’s hospital and later transported to the Cleveland Clinic, where he’s regained consciousness and is recovering.
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