All gyms should have an AED on hand to help ensure the
safety and health of its members. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt to have an off-duty
trooper hanging around.
Seamus Leavy, a police trooper from Saratoga, Calif., was
working out at a local gym when he saw a young man near him collapse.
Luckily, Leavy’s training had prepared him for such a life
and death moment. Upon determining that the 23-year-old was unconscious and not
breathing, Leavy began administering CPR.
Though this was enough to briefly get him breathing again,
it wasn’t until a gym employee (who had already called the paramedics) brought
over the gym’s AED that Leavy was able to get the victim out of the woods.
It took two shocks and some more CPR, but the young victim
ultimately began breathing on his own, regained consciousness, and was actually
up on his feet when the paramedics arrived.
It’s safe to say that Leavy’s actions saved the young man’s
life. In fact, the data downloaded from the AED showed that, had Leavy not
acted as quickly as he had, there’s a very good chance the victim would not
have survived.
The beauty of AEDs, however, is that you don’t need to be a
police officer to use one to save someone’s life.
In this case, Leavy’s police training allowed him to act
quickly and calmly, but just preparing yourself with a little knowledge, you
can also be the difference in a life or death scenario.
Find a local
CPR class today, and make sure that your gym has an AED on hand!