"I was dead for 67 minutes. It's a miracle that I'm here today." Those are the words of Bruce Richardson, who survived a cardiac arrest (心脏骤停) in July 2016 thanks to the quick actions of his friends and the first responders who refused to give up.
It was an early summer morning, a typical Saturday. Bruce volunteered as usual in the community center. "I had no symptoms that there was any problem. It was a completely normal morning; I felt fine," he shared. "I was visiting with friends. Then, I passed out. What happened next I know from what others have told me."
Bruce's friend, Jack, had learned how to perform CPR, and he quickly began chest compressions. Another friend, Doug, dialed 911 and the operator walked him through compressions until first responders arrived. Once the ambulance arrived, the paramedics tried five times to restart Bruce's heart with an AED. By this time, Bruce had been without a heartbeat for over 30 minutes, often when time of death is called. On the phone with an emergency room doctor. one of the paramedics was instructed to try two AEDs simultaneously (同时). It worked; Bruce's heart began to beat again. Incredibly, he awoke the next day and was able to communicate. After a week, Bruce made a full recovery and left the hospital.
Since Bruce's cardiac arrest, he has since been able to resume a normal life with some differences. He now is a passionate CPR advocate. He has shared his story in the news, and last year he was a guest speaker at the Association's Indianapolis Heart & Stroke Ball to encourage people to spread the message of CPR. Finally, Bruce shared his story in a video now being used to promote American Heart Association Hands-Only CPR kiosks installed around the country.
