Brad Lewis of Dubuque started having heartburn after dinner which continued into the next day. He also felt like his chest muscles were tight but attributed it to moving tables the day before. After finishing a round of golf, he headed into the clubhouse for the banquet. He took some antacids and rested to see if the heartburn would subside. He determined that he didn’t feel well enough to eat dinner so he was going to leave, possibly going to acute care to be evaluated. He stood up to tell his friends that he was leaving and collapsed. He, ironically, fell into an EMT, who immediately started CPR. Another EMT and physician also helped with CPR and used the AED on site. One shock converted him from ventricular fibrillation into normal sinus rhythm. As this was happening a friend of the family, a cardiologist, walked in and took over care. Brad was taken to the Cath Lab, where it was determined a blood clot caused the ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest.

“If this would have happened anywhere else, the outcome may have been tragic,” said Stacey Lewis, Brad’s wife. “We are so thankful for the quick action taken by individuals including the use of an AED that helped save Brad during this very scary incident. We all need to be educated on CPR and know where the closest AED is. We can’t depend on emergency personnel because when it comes to cardiac issues EVERY second counts!”