During a regular track practice[mfn]ems1.com[/mfn] on Monday at Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, Washington, volunteer distance coach Mike Hadway collapsed from a cardiac arrest, shortly after teaching his team how to monitor their pulse. High school students Brody Graham and Grant Lichfield, members of Hadway’s track team, immediately acted, performing CPR on their coach in a critical moment of need.
Graham, 17, utilized the pulse-checking technique taught earlier by Hadway to search for his coach’s pulse, only to find none, prompting him to start chest compressions. Trained as a lifeguard, Graham, along with Lichfield, played a crucial role in saving Hadway’s life by administering CPR until paramedics arrived, a mere couple of minutes later.
Hadway, 69, had experienced a sudden cardiac arrest likely exacerbated by a combination of overexertion and underlying health issues. Previously, Hadway had undergone multiple heart surgeries for a congenital heart defect when he was younger. The fast actions of his students, especially Graham and Lichfield, who were performing CPR on a person for the first time, were instrumental in his survival. The severity of the situation was underscored by the fact that CPR often results in broken ribs or sternum due to the force required, a reality the boys faced as they worked to revive their coach.
The rescue was a testament to the importance of CPR training, highlighted using the rhythm of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees to maintain the correct pace for chest compressions, a method recommended by the American Heart Association.
The event was a dramatic reminder of the unpredictability of cardiac arrests and the crucial role of immediate response, showcasing how a group of high school athletes and an off-duty paramedic, alerted by the PulsePoint app, came together to save a life. The aftermath saw the community and the students rallying in support of Hadway, who was recovering in the hospital, grateful for the swift actions of those at the scene. This incident not only highlighted the bravery and quick thinking of young students but also the profound impact of CPR and defibrillator knowledge in saving lives, reinforcing the message that anyone can be a lifesaver in moments of crisis.
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