January 8, 2021 at 8:22 a.m.
'CPR saved my life': Local RASTA members shed light on CPR awareness
'CPR saved my life': Local RASTA members shed light on CPR awareness
By Stephanie Kuski-
"It's true, we were riding mountain bike trails in the woods and if it wasn't for my friend Steve Engel providing me CPR immediately I wouldn't be here," he continued. "I wouldn't be planning for a full recovery, I wouldn't be looking forward to trips with my wife, and I wouldn't be able to get back on a bike and ride through the woods again someday. All of that and more is in my future because Steve had CPR training and kept me alive until the EMTs got to the site."
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 350,000 Americans experience sudden cardiac arrest every year and heart disease is consistently a leading cause of death in the U.S. Fortunately, bystanders who administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in emergency situations can greatly increase an individual's chances of survival.
Indeed, Watson's story is a compelling reminder that such a routinely-practiced technique truly saves lives. But there's more than one hero to this story in a community that readily rallied to help a local resident in crisis.
On a fateful November evening, Watson and Engel were out riding bikes at the Washburn trail, an activity the duo enjoy together as local RASTA members. As they neared the gravel road leading to the parking lot on Washburn Lake Road, Engel stopped to check on his riding partner, only to find Watson laying on the ground behind him.
At first Engel said he thought Watson fell off his bike, but when he didn't respond to Engel's calls, he knew something was wrong.
"Your mind is going a mile a minute," Engel recalled.
Watson's unresponsiveness and agonal breathing prompted Engel to act, calling on his years of CPR training.
"The hardest part was deciding I had to do it," Engel said. "I just figured it had to be that, so I'm going to do CPR because that's the only thing I know how to do... I'm going to do whatever I can and God I don't want to see my friend die."
He quickly started compressions and called 911, communicating with the dispatcher to send emergency services. Engel continued CPR until first responders arrived.
"I think time kinda stood still," he said, "but I don't believe it was more than 10 minutes before they were there. It might have even been less before the first first responder was there. It was really fast."
Engel continued CPR as first responders arrived with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Not too long afterward, an ambulance and sheriff's deputy arrived on scene. En route to the hospital, a team of local paramedics successfully resuscitated Watson.
"All of the people who responded were so helpful, right down to the deputy hauling me and the bikes back to the shelter," Engel commented. "Everybody was great the way they did their jobs."
Afterward, Watson was transported to the Aspirus cardiac unit in Wausau. He said he has no recollection of ever going for a bike ride that day; his first memory was waking up in the hospital and the ICU nurse telling him his friend saved his life.
As a result of the life-saving CPR, however, Watson did sustain a number of broken ribs in addition to bumps and bruises from the initial fall off his bike. After spending a week in the hospital recovering from the initial trauma, Watson underwent triple bypass surgery.
Watson said he had no previous diagnosis of coronary heart disease before his heart attack, other than some issues with high blood pressure. In fact, he said he was feeling better than he had in years this past summer, as he was spending more time exercising and staying busy maintaining RASTA trails.
Indeed, those with CPR certification may go their entire lives without ever needing to perform the procedure. But in the face of an emergency, Engel's clear head and quick action saved the life of a fellow RASTA member, biker and friend.
Engel has been CPR-certified for the better part of a decade since it's a requirement for his job in the electrical field. He also coaches the local mountain bike team, which requires CPR certification as well as wilderness first-aid training. Coincidentally, Engel's mother-in-law Vicky Roberts-Sanfelipo is also a CPR instructor who has facilitated refresher courses for Engel and his wife, Andrea, among others in the wider community.
"I actually would have never really thought about it except I needed it for work," Engel commented. "Now that this happened... I'm glad those places made me learn it, because it would be hard to live with not knowing what to do."
"There's no doubt... that CPR saved my life," Watson echoed.
As a result of the experience, Watson has helped spearhead an initiative whereby RASTA will sponsor CPR training for interested members come May 2021. Introductory CPR classes as well as refresher courses will be offered to RASTA members in an outdoor setting facilitated by Roberts-Sanfelipo.
"We want to help get the word out: know CPR and save someone's life," Watson said.
In addition to sponsoring CPR classes, RASTA is also collaborating with the county to implement a Trail Information Network (TIN) at the Washburn trail system to accurately locate individuals in case of an emergency. That project is outlined in RASTA's five-year plan and more work on the project will be facilitated this winter.
There are many reasons for individuals to consider taking a CPR class, and Watson's story demonstrates that this simple method saves lives. Watson himself has been CPR-certified for nearly 30 years and said he plans on taking a refresher course to brush up on his skills.
Outside of the RASTA-sponsored CPR training sessions, there are also other certification opportunities in the area that are catered to the general public.
Nicolet College, for example, is an AHA training center with a cadre of instructors who facilitate CPR training classes both on campus and at satellite locations.
Ray Lemke, fire and EMS specialist at Nicolet College, noted the college offers a number of different classes which cater to the needs of those seeking instruction.
Lemke said the college has had to cancel some CPR classes due to COVID concerns, but his hope is to resume general offerings for open enrollment come early spring of next year. He noted the college has invested in a significant number of demonstration mannequins and AED trainers so that each individual participating in the class will have their own equipment to mitigate potential spread of the virus.
The AHA also recommends those who have already undergone CPR training in the past to take a refresher course every two years to review and expand on the skills learned in these classes.
Several businesses, organizations and sports teams require staff to be CPR-certified, which speaks to the universal importance of this critical knowledge. Lemke also noted most clinics, schools, churches and offices have AEDs on site as a result of broad CPR training, which increases the odds of survival dramatically.
"The more people that know CPR, know how to activate the emergency medical services system and know how to provide initial intervention, i.e. CPR and early defibrillation, the higher the probability a person would survive an event," Lemke said. "Early intervention by a bystander until other trained medical personnel arrive greatly increases that survivability."
The AHA cites a 2014 study which found nearly 45% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survived when bystander CPR was administered. Lemke emphasized that early intervention, early access to 911 and early CPR, defibrillation and advanced life support all have a significant impact on the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims.
"I encourage anyone and everyone interested in taking a CPR class to do so," Lemke said. "I think one of the biggest driving factors behind somebody wanting to take a CPR class... is just that simple fact to serve the community, to be prepared in the event that someone they know... would suffer a cardiac arrest event, that they could provide resuscitative care prior to the arrival of emergency medical services."
For more information about CPR classes offered at Nicolet College, check the Nicolet website for updated information on spring offerings. Further inquiries can be emailed to [email protected] or by calling the Nicolet College public safety office at (715) 365-4600.
Comments:
You must login to comment.