CPR and AED Saved A School Administrator's Life

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CPR and AED Saved A School Administrator's Life
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At 28 years old, Heather Baker, a school
administrator from Pecatonica, Illinois,
experienced a life-altering event. During a
meeting with colleagues, she suddenly felt
nauseous and dizzy, leading to her collapsing and
hitting her head. Unbeknownst to her, she was
suffering from cardiac arrest. Bill Faller, the
district superintendent, immediately recognized
the signs and began administering CPR, having
recently completed training. Simultaneously, a
pregnant school psychologist fetched an automated
external defibrillator (AED). Tim King, the
middle school principal and a volunteer
firefighter, arrived and used the AED, eventually
stabilizing Baker's heart rhythm.
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Hospitalized and placed in a medically induced
coma, Baker learned upon awakening how CPR and
quick thinking saved her life. Her survival was
remarkable, given her youth and the low survival
rate of cardiac arrest outside hospitals. Baker's
health history was unremarkable. An athlete
throughout her life, with no preexisting
conditions, her cardiac arrest was a mystery. Her
doctors speculated that migraine medication,
which affected her potassium levels, might have
played a role. Grateful for her survival, Baker
reflected on her grandfather's similar heart
issue, which tragically resulted in his death as
he was alone at the time. This contrast made her
appreciate the importance of having people around
who could perform CPR.
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Now a mother to a son with a heart condition (a
right ventricular aneurysm detected before
birth), Baker is even more committed to promoting
CPR training. Her son's condition, believed to be
unrelated to genetics, has intensified her
resolve to ensure safety in schools and
communities. Since her incident in 2018, Baker
has trained nearly 3,000 people in CPR. She's
actively involved with the American Heart
Association and Project ADAM, focusing on
increasing AED accessibility and CPR knowledge in
schools. Her experience has not only shaped her
life but has also ignited a passion to empower
others with lifesaving skills.
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Source https//www.heart.org/en/news/2023/04/07/s
he-was-28-and-went-into-cardiac-arrest-at-work-cpr
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