First Aid Corps

We will be reporting on lives saved around the world since our first documented life saved here in Singapore.

Stephen Gauthier the Saviour

Gauthier was working out across the gym when he heard someone scream, and then saw a stranger lying on the floor. 

Hukka, 57, had gone into cardiac arrest and was unconscious.

Gauthier, a certified trainer who is also certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, realized Hukka did not have a heart beat and grabbed the external defibrillator while another gym employee gave Hukka chest compressions.

“As far as nerves — I was shaken at the time but was calm because instinct and adrenaline took over, but immediately following — I was pretty shook up,” said Gauthier.

“All I could think about for the next 48 to 72 hours was just hoping he was going to make it and talk to him again,” said Gauthier.

“It’s amazing looking into his eyes. Those were the eyes rolling to the back of his head,” said Gauthier.

After eight days, Hukka was released from the hospital.

“What can you say to the guy who saved your life — Thanks,” said former firefighter Bob Hukka to 25-year-old Stephen Gauthier.

We will be reporting on lives saved around the world since our first documented life saved here in Singapore.

Vincent T. DiFilippo Saved

The Silver Spring Twp. supervisor slumped over the papers spread on his desk. 

DiFilippo, 51, had just suffered an apparent heart attack during Wednesday night’s supervisors meeting.

When DiFilippo collapsed, fellow Supervisor Mary Lou Pierce-McLain grabbed him from one side and secretary Sue Ellen Adams reached for the other. He didn’t respond.

Chairwoman Jan LeBlanc shouted DiFilippo’s name, and a standing-room-only audience froze as he lay unconscious on the floor.

Not Jerry McAteer.

McAteer, an Annville EMT, was at the meeting on behalf of his employer, Delta Development.

The Army veteran, whose military specialty was dismantling explosives, didn’t hesitate when DiFilippo collapsed. Pushing others aside, he rushed to the fallen man.

Throwing himself to his knees, McAteer began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Before an ambulance crew arrived, about 10 minutes into the attack, McAteer and township police staff, Chief Jim Sadler, Detective Dale Sabadash, Sgt. Leroy Hippensteel and Patrolman Steve Grunden repeatedly applied an automatic external defibrillator before reviving DiFilippo.

For nine seemingly interminable minutes, McAteer, Sabadish, police Chief Jim Sadler and others worked on DiFilippo who, according to LeBlanc, has had heart health problems.

As the AED was applied at least three times, LeBlanc and other township officials gathered in an anguished cluster. Developers, engineers, attorneys and township residents stood silent as the digital voice of the AED commanded rescuers to “Stand back.” “Check pulse.”

The hospital could not be reached for a comment on DeFilippo’s condition this morning.

Updates on 19/03/2009

“I was out for nine minutes. That’s beyond brain death. That I didn’t have brain damage is because of what Jerry did. He and the defibrillator saved my life,” DiFilippo said.

“I still have some discomfort in my chest, which I expect I’ll have for some time,” DiFilippo said.

“I’ve been given, for unknown reasons, a second chance to live, and I’m not going to waste that opportunity. I’m enjoying looking out my window at the birds, walking the dogs, washing the car, filling the bird feeder and spending time with my wife,” he said.

We will be reporting on lives saved around the world since our first documented life saved here in Singapore.

David Page the Saviour

It was an early morning tennis lesson and then a bucket of balls to practice his serve.

Minutes into his practice the tennis player – just a month into learning the sport – collapsed on the court at the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club.

He wasn’t breathing. His heart stopped beating.

David Page is in the tennis business – not in the business of saving lives. At least that was the case up until Wednesday when he looked up from the lesson he was teaching and saw one of his students – and friend – down.

Page, 47, ran inside the club and grabbed the Automated External Defibrillator. With firefighters on their way, Page began CPR.

The AED’s mechanical voice told him what to do and he did what he was told as he tried to shock his friend back to life.

He has a wife. He has a family. He had things to live for.

“You want to give the heart a little jumpstart,” Page said.

It was here where 12 years of CPR training came rushing in. And the sessions on how to use the AED – which had been installed at the club more than five years ago. Page knew how to use it. He just never expected he would have to.

“When you really have to do it it’s a whole different program,” Page said. “It was miraculous,” Page said. “I kept telling him ‘don’t do this to me. You better come through.’”

Three minutes after the 911 call firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority arrived. The man had no pulse. His heart was quivering with no rhythm or beat. Page tried to get up to get out of their way. But the firefighters wouldn’t have any of it.

“They told me ‘get back down there and finish your chest compressions,’” Page said. So he did, helping OCFA Firefighter Paramedic Jim Bush continue CPR as Bush used an AED one more time on the fallen man.

Two minutes after firefighters arrived, he had a pulse and he was breathing on his own. Within five minutes he was opening his eyes.

Not many people come back from this,” said OCFA Capt. Jack Perisho who responded to Wednesday’s call of a man in full arrest. “I truly believe that because of the actions of David Page this guy is alive now.”

“Thank God,” Page said. “I love that man so much. I am just glad I was there to help.”

We will be reporting on lives saved around the world since our first documented life saved here in Singapore.

Dolphan McFadden Saved

On January 4th, McFadden was playing basketball with his friends on this same court when his heart stopped.

“My heart just started fluttering and I just fell out.”

McFadden, who is a physically fit 52-year-old father of six, fell flat on the court.

Jessica Thompson is a nurse at the Orange Park Medical Center. She just happened to be taking an exercise class at the YMCA that day. Her boyfriend, who had been playing ball with McFadden, brought her to his aid.

Thompson used the YMCA’s automated external defibrillator, or AED, on McFadden. It’s the third time an AED at a First Coast YMCA has been used.

Thompson said, “After the AED shocked him, I started CPR and Bill started after me.”

She’s talking about Bill McCarthy, who works at the front desk at the YMCA. He’s served two tours in Vietnam, and those life-saving skills he learned in the military came back to him.

McCarthy said, “Then I got some shallow breaths from you. It was just enough to stop CPR, put an oxygen mask on you, and they put you on a gurney.”

McFadden was then rushed to the hospital, unconscious, and had to have surgery. Doctors put a defibrillator device into his chest to prevent his heart from stopping again.

Tuesday, McCarthy shook his head and told McFadden, “Yeah, I worked like crazy on you.”

McFadden smiled and said, “That’s my man! Thank you, Bill! You’re an angel. You’re an angel.”

Bill replied, “Naw. I was just there at the right place at the right time.”

“I used to be someone who had trouble sitting down. I would keep pretty active,” he said. “Now I am getting chauffeured around until they clear me to drive again.”

As for McCarthy and Thompson, McFadden said they’re actions kept him alive to enjoy more time with his wife, Victoria, and his five children.

McFadden calmly told First Coast News, “I had angels here protecting me, looking out for me. So, I feel blessed.”

“To me they are like angels being at the right place at the right time. The timing was impeccable,” he said. “It was sheer coincidence that (Thompson) was there to operate (the AED).”

“I’m just thanking God that I am alive.”

We will be reporting on lives saved around the world since our first documented life saved here in Singapore.

Joseph Tamanini (sitted) and Ann Sturns

Joseph Tamanini, 82, had been mowing the lawn of his Bridge Street home when his friend, Ann Sturns, noticed the lawn mower was running idle. 

“I decided to take a look and found Joe lying on the ground beside the mower,” Sturns said. She asked a neighbor to call 911, and three New Cumberland police officers answered the call.

“When I arrived on the scene, I believe I saw Mr. Tamanini draw his last breath,” said Cpl. Joseph Spadaccino of the New Cumberland Police Department.

Spadaccino and Officers Tracy King and James Burns arrived within minutes and revived Tamanini, using an automated external defibrillator, or AED. An AED is a portable device that shocks a patient’s heart in an attempt to reset its natural rhythm.

“Someone up there was looking out for me,” Tamanini said. “It gave me a second chance at life.” He underwent heart surgery and hasn’t had brain damage or other side effects from going into cardiac arrest.