PITTSBURGH--On March 3, 2009, James Zoretich, suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Fortunately Moon Township, PA, Police Officer Doug Busch was on duty and he rushed to the rescue to save Jim’s life. Jim later received state-of-the-art post resuscitation care at The Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) at Allegheny General Hospital, West Penn Health System, Pittsburgh, including mild therapeutic hypothermia and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy.
What made it possible for Doug to save Jim? Doug himself had been resuscitated four months previously on November 11, 2008. Doug was home alone and experiencing chest pains. After debating with himself on the appropriate course of action, he had the good sense to call 9-1-1, rather than drive himself to the hospital. EMS responders from the Valley Ambulance Authority arrived just as Doug succumbed to full cardiac arrest. They gave him CPR, used a defibrillator, and brought him to CVI, where he, too, received state-of-the-art post resuscitation care.
Wait—it gets better. Before Doug’s near-death experience, he had intervened in another life-threatening incident. It was April 25, 2008, when Pete Shandrick suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at work. Doug used CPR and the automated external defibrillator (AED) from a nearby office to save Pete’s life. He, too, was later cooled to preserve brain function.
Kinda gives a whole new meaning to the "Chain of Survival"!
The intertwined cases of these three Pittsburgh survivors were celebrated on October 7 during the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation's annual event, "Won't You Be My Neighbor? Won't You Learn How to Save a Life?," in Pittsburgh. Rescuers from the Moon Township Police Department, Valley Ambulance Authority, and CVI, were recognized for their bravery.
Speakers included Jamie Dixon, Head Coach, University of Pittsburgh Men's Basketball, whose sister Maggie died suddenly from cardiac arrest in 2006, and David Newell, "Mr. 'Speedy Delivery' McFeeley" from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. News anchor, Sally Wiggin, WTAE, served as emcee.
The moral of the story
You never know when you’ll be called upon to save a life. So you, your family, and your friends should be prepared to provide "speedy delivery" of lifesaving care—the simple things anyone can do to save a life:
- Recognize the emergency and decide to act
- Call 9-1-1
- Give CPR or continuous chest compressions
- Use the nearest AED.
Who knows? One day, someone may just do the same for you.
-Mary Newman