Did you know that I live on Wisteria Lane? Here in photographic evidence:
While I was in San Francisco, Giancarlo had a horrible experience here on Wisteria Lane.
He was outside in the front yard and our neighbor, Tom, came running out of our Ed's (other neighbor) house. Giancarlo called out, asking what was wrong. Tom called back that he was running to open the gate because the ambulance couldn't get in, and that Ed had collapsed.
Giancarlo rushed across the street and into the house. Ed was on the floor, purple in the face, unconscious. Giancarlo immediately began CPR. Each time he gave Ed a breath, he vomited, into Giancarlo's mouth. He wondered if he was doing something wrong, because in CPR training they don't tell you what to do if the victim keeps vomiting and vomiting. Nonetheless, he continued trying to clear his airway and continue CPR. But there was no response. After several minutes, the paramedics arrived.
Amidst all of the commotion, Giancarlo stepped out of the house and back across the street. Covered in vomit, he was shaken to the core. He changed his shirt, washed his mouth out with mouthwash, and called me, his voice trembling.
"I think Ed had a heart attack. I don't think he's going to make it."
Ed didn't make it. He was sixty five years old, and I used to see him running on my way to work, every single morning. Clearly, he was getting enough exercise. But did he eat the right kinds of foods? Was he genetically predisposed to heart disease?
Giancarlo was left with the doubt that he had administered CPR incorrectly. However, after talking to our other neighbors who are firefighters, he was reminded that even if you're doing CPR incorrectly, it is certainly better than doing nothing at all.
It turns out, Ed had a massive coronary, and there was nothing anyone could have done to save him. But I'm so proud of Giancarlo for not hesitating, for getting in there, and doing what he could to try to save the life of our neighbor.
When I was certified in CPR, the instructor told us that statistically, every one of us in that room would someday need to use what we learned.
Do you know CPR? Have you had to use it?
Giancarlo rushed across the street and into the house. Ed was on the floor, purple in the face, unconscious. Giancarlo immediately began CPR. Each time he gave Ed a breath, he vomited, into Giancarlo's mouth. He wondered if he was doing something wrong, because in CPR training they don't tell you what to do if the victim keeps vomiting and vomiting. Nonetheless, he continued trying to clear his airway and continue CPR. But there was no response. After several minutes, the paramedics arrived.
Amidst all of the commotion, Giancarlo stepped out of the house and back across the street. Covered in vomit, he was shaken to the core. He changed his shirt, washed his mouth out with mouthwash, and called me, his voice trembling.
"I think Ed had a heart attack. I don't think he's going to make it."
Ed didn't make it. He was sixty five years old, and I used to see him running on my way to work, every single morning. Clearly, he was getting enough exercise. But did he eat the right kinds of foods? Was he genetically predisposed to heart disease?
Giancarlo was left with the doubt that he had administered CPR incorrectly. However, after talking to our other neighbors who are firefighters, he was reminded that even if you're doing CPR incorrectly, it is certainly better than doing nothing at all.
It turns out, Ed had a massive coronary, and there was nothing anyone could have done to save him. But I'm so proud of Giancarlo for not hesitating, for getting in there, and doing what he could to try to save the life of our neighbor.
When I was certified in CPR, the instructor told us that statistically, every one of us in that room would someday need to use what we learned.
Do you know CPR? Have you had to use it?
26 comments:
Oh my gosh. I am so sorry that happened. What a horrible thing. I will pray for his family. I love that Giancarlo was able to help. Every year we have to take a cpr course and every year I pray I don't have to use what I learn. I always forget how many pushes and breaths to give.
Oh my God, this gave me goose bumps. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. God bless Giancarlo for jumping right in and doing something.
Poor GC. I'm so proud of him for jumping in! I know t he basics but, have thankfully never had to use it!
Know it, never had to use it.
I'm sorry for your neighbor. My mom is 65 and certainly doesn't run everyday. God bless Giancarlo for stepping in. I'm glad your other neighbors were able to let him know he did everything he could.
I was certified at one time. I remember next to nothing.
Wow! I'm proud of Giancarlo, too! Terrible ending, though. :(
I do know CPR, but I should really brush up on it.
Oh how tragic. A true hero for trying. I have taken CPR and first aid. I have not had to do rescue breathing but have had to help a couple of kids through seizures. So scary. I will always remember my instructors giving me the same advice you heard. Even CPR done wrong is better then nothing, get in there and try" Hugs to your friends and neighbours. Too bad we couldn't all write our own happy endings like they do on TV
I have been trained, but have never done CPR. I did successfully do the Heimlich once.
What an experience for Giancarlo--at least he really knows he has what it takes to keep his head in an emergency.
What's with the gate thing though? Aren't firefighters/paramedics supposed to have some signal that overrides the gate -- it's a little scary that someone had to leave someone in distress to open the gate.
First off, way to go Giancarlo for stepping in and doing what he could. The vomiting would have thrown me over the edge (or maybe not in a time of crisis).
I'm grateful for knowing it, AND never having to use it.
I do have a friend who was going through security at the airport and a man collapsed right in front of her with a heart attack. She sent her husband to grab the defribulator (sp?) off the wall in the airport and she used it right then and there. She is respobsible for saving his life because of her quick thinking!
Oh my goodness! What a horrible story. How hard to have been there when it was all happening. I am proud of him too. Not a lot of people are willing to "get involved" these days.
It shows what a hero heart Giancarlo has and what a fine human being he is to run to help. Good for him.
My hubby knows CPR but I do not.
Wow. Good for Giancatlo to help. I'm so sorry he didn't make it. I pray that I will never have to use CPR, even though I have been trained.
wow. what a great guy. And that throw up would have stopped me. I'm sorry that your neighbor didn't make it. Give Giancarlo a big hug from me. I can only hope that if I need help some day, there will be someone like him around.
How's Giancarlo doing now? I can't imagine that's an easy one to recover from. He's a true hero.
I trained for CPR, many times, though I need to retrain too. In one course or another I was warned about the vomiting, so it does happen. We were also told that CPR, even if it isn't perfect is better than nothing.
I also heard that the proper rythem for CPR is to the beat of ¨Stayin' Alive¨ of Travolta fame. Makes it easier to time it.
Never had to use it yet. Good on Giancarlo for getting in there. A shame the man didn't recover. Sad.
Amen to all the above postings. Giancarlo is a hero, even though the outcome was not in his favor. I have taught thousands of people CPR over my career (probably even Jason) and have saved some lives and not most of those I have done CPR on. It is important that everyone know how to do CPR. Refresher courses help keep us up-to-date on the latest, but in times of crisis, usually our original training kicks in. Bless you both and give the man a big hug for me too. LUV U
I am so sorry for what Giancarlo went through. He is a hero!
I am also very sorry for the loss of your dear neighbor.
I had to be certified in CPR and First Aid as a Girl Scout leader. I happen to be very good during a crises . . . and then I'm very good at suffering with PTSD from it years later. ;-)
Love to you and Giancarlo.
It is better to have tried than to kick yourself later for not doing anything...so sorry to read your post. Sympathies from NY
Wish I read Jason's blog more often! Just now read this whole thread. Thank you all for your kind words. I've spoken to a neighbor today who is a nurse (at Ed's funeral). Apparently there is nothing that can be done to save a person who suffers a ruptured coronary, but then again there is no way for someone like myself to have know that. I've learned that today's CPR training teaches us that the chest compressions are far more important than the breaths. 30 compressions to 1 or 2 breaths. Also, Jason got one thing wrong. Poor Ed did vomit after each and every breath I gave him, but not into my mouth. After the first breath, he vomitted and I turned his head sideways, cleared him out as much as possible, and continued. After that, I turned his head in anticipation and he vomitted again. He and his friends had just eaten appetizers and had a few beers, which is why this was happening. By the way, I was administering 15 compressions to 1 breath. My training was outdated. Remember, 30 compressions, 1 or 2 breaths. I was actually told, and ready, that if you are not comfortable with the breaths, you should still do the compressions. That alone could save a life. Sadly though, from what I've read, unless there is a difibrilator available, the survival rate even with CPR administered correctly, is less than 30%. Well, I could probably go on and on, but I'll stop now and again, thank you all for your good wishes! Giancarlo
I should probably get a re-cert for CPR, it's been a while. Have never had to use it but you make an good point about being prepared.
Giancarlo has nothing to be regretful about. It was 'out of his hands'.
Happy 4th Jason to you and yours!!!
Jim
Please HUG Giancarlo for me. He did his best, and that is a comfort. Your neighbor did not die alone - he was receiving care and love from Giancarlo. Thank God he responded to your neighbor's need.
I am so sorry that Ed didn't make it, but BRAVO to Giancarlo for trying to help.
You just never know about heart issues. My father had quadruple bypass surgery in August 2010. He never had high cholesterol and was diligent about checking his numbers - cholesterol and such every year. He was overweight, but he didn't really eat that much bad food per se. His cardiologist said it was genetic. Thanks a lot Dad, you couldn't pass on your awesome navigation skills to me, but you gave me heart problems. LOL!
Anyway, I have concluded that all we can do in life is eat right more often than not, exercise more often than not, and the rest is up to fate.
You have yourself a good man.
I'm proud of Giancarlo, too. I tend to be the Run The Other Way Girl (I really hate that about myself) so I'm in awe that he rushed in to see what he could do. Good guy.
That is traumatic. GianCarlo is a hero!
Your man is a hero!!! I am sorry that Ed did not make it...so sad.
I am trained in CPR, but have yet to use it.
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