A bystander’s quick action and knowledge of CPR saved the life of 72-year-old William Johnson, who collapsed while playing basketball Thursday, March 24.
It all came together, Johnson said. `I was in the right place, with the right people with the right equipment and with close proximity to EMS.`
Johnson was stricken during a Senior Men’s Basketball League game at Roessleville Elementary School, and fellow participants quickly noticed that it was no regular sports injury ` the color of Johnson’s face turned gray-blue ` and began administering CPR.
Dan Quinn, the instructor for the Adult Basketball Program at Roessleville, ran into the hall toward the custodians’ break room because he knew they had access to a defibrillator and had knowledge of how to use it.
After hearing shouts from people to call 911, custodian Doug Hutton was informed by Quinn that there was a man down in the gym. Staff at South Colonie Central School District are required to go through CPR training every two years, and Hutton is up to renew his certification next week.
`He didn’t look good. He was blue and he looked terrible,` Hutton said. `I opened the machine saying, ‘God, don’t screw this up.’`
As the men applying the CPR moved back, Hutton passed Quinn the pads to place on Johnson, and then began following the step-by-step instructions the voice from the AED machine gave. Hutton instructed everyone to stand back as he went to push the shock button. Once it went off, Hutton said he saw Johnson’s body jump. And soon after that, Johnson took his first breath.
`The EMTs came through the door shortly after,` he said. `The whole thing was kind of blurry.`
The EMTs asked Hutton if he had used the defibrillator. When he said yes, they told him he saved Johnson’s life.
Johnson was then transported to St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. There, he had a pacemaker installed to help normalize his heartbeat.
`They had it hooked up as quickly as possible,` Quinn said about the use of the AED. `Shortly thereafter Colonie EMS and police were on the scene. Everything happened in a period of 4 to 5 minutes.`
The next day, Colonie EMS came back to collect the defibrillator. When a nurse took out a chip from the AED that gave information on Johnson’s conditioned, the machine said that he had flatlined until the shock was administered.
Hutton said it was more of a team effort that saved Johnson’s life rather than an individual using an AED machine. He even said that it would take `a total idiot` to not know how to use the machine since it talks a person through the process step by step.
`People in the news have been calling me a hero,` he said. `I’m not a hero. I was in the right place at the right time. It was a group effort. Everyone did their part, and I just happened to be the AED guy.`
Johnson said he has not yet talked to the men who saved his life, but he intends to.
As a result of his recent collapse, Johnson said he has a new bucket list he is working on. The only medical condition he had prior to that day was an irregular heartbeat that was diagnosed in the early ’90s. For the most part, he said, his health is looking good.
`Yes, it is looking all right,` he said. `I could almost shoot foul shots.`
Colonie EMS Deputy Chief Peter Barry said this incident proves why it is important to have the proper CPR training and AED machine in all public facilities. With good bystander knowledge of CPR and early defibrillator use, Johnson’s life was saved.
`Good first response and transport to an intervention facility equals an extremely good outcome,` he said.
On Thursday, March 28, at a regularly scheduled Town Board Meeting, Colonie EMS and the American Heart Association will team up and put on an event highlighting the importance of CPR as well as garner support for a statewide bill that would mandate CPR training in all schools.
`It’s important for everyone to have CPR training,` Barry said. `That’s why we’re starting it in high school.`
The event will take place before Student Government Day, where students shadow town officials, at the Public Safety Building.
Johnson said he is very grateful for all of those who helped save his life. And even though he has booked plane tickets to Houston for the Empire Games in his age bracket, he won’t be able to play. But doctors have said he will soon be able to play again.
`I don’t know if I can convince them of how grateful I am,` he said. `I don’t know what to say. At least make them believe it’s beyond expression.“
