Teenager Revives Father After Cardiac Arrest
The ball soared across the golf course. Jon Crabbe stepped away from the tee and started walking toward his son. And collapsed.
Fifteen-year-old Jack dialed 911 for help. His dad wasn’t breathing. He was in cardiac arrest. Jack kneeled and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) just as he was taught at Victor Senior High School.
“I was going for about three to four minutes,” Jack said.
Nearby golfers and staff gathered to support the teenager. “They were counting with me. I was singing “Stayin’ Alive” to keep the beat,” a technique he learned to keep a swift and steady rhythm of 100 to 120 chest compressions per minute in a physical education class. “My adrenaline was high. I was with my dad, and I wanted to make sure he’s OK.”
During cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating or does not beat effectively, halting blood flow to the brain and the rest of the body. Without oxygen-rich blood, the risk of neurological damage increases significantly. CPR helps maintain some blood flow until medical personnel arrive.
First responders used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to restart Jon’s heart and transported him to UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital. Cardiac Care experts restored his heart function.
Jon is recovering and his heart care team repeatedly praised Jack’s heroism.
“He did everything right by starting CPR because it set the stage for his father’s successful outcome,” said Joseph Delehanty, MD, who partnered with Krishna Rao, MD, and Ed Arazoza, MD, to care for Jon, 49.
Jack’s grateful mother, Tricia, has repeated: “Jack saved our family.”
Frightening Facts
Each year, more than 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, according to the American Heart Association. That’s almost 1,000 every day, and only one in 10 will survive.
Their chances of survival can double when someone quickly performs CPR. Unfortunately, that happens less than half of the time. Bystanders – family, friends or strangers – often don’t know how to perform CPR or don’t feel confident in their abilities.
Recent data indicates in Monroe and Livingston counties, only 32 percent of people who suffered cardiac arrest at home received CPR prior to arrival of an ambulance. That rate is below the national target of 45 percent.
Become a Lifesaver: Learn CPR
CPR is an essential skill for all ages. And it’s easier than ever to learn.
UR Medicine and the American Heart Association are working to improve CPR readiness with a and self-serve training kits available at Monroe County libraries. The portable unit moves to easily accessible locations throughout the area. Go to LearnCPR.urmc.edu to learn where it is today.
CPR training is also offered by the , , and many ambulance corps.
Author
