File under awesome: Jamal Ahmed ’09 and wrestling coach Drew Black happened to be on the scene yesterday afternoon when an alumnus collapsed from a heart attack while running on a treadmill at the Andersen Fitness Center.
Ahmed and Black reacted quickly with a defibrillator and began administering CPR, reviving him and keeping him conscious until the EMT’s arrived.
From the Argus:
Drew Black was in the Andersen Fitness Center on Friday working out before his 1:10 Introduction to Strength Training class when Chester Arnold ’77, who was running on one of the fitness center’s treadmills at the time, collapsed and lost consciousness. Black and student Jamal Ahmed ’09, who was in the fitness center at the time, immediately rushed to Arnold and evaluated his condition. Arnold was not breathing and had no pulse, so Black and Ahmed retrieved the automatic external defibrillator (AED) outside the fitness center and set to work on Arnold.
Ahmed delivered a shock from the defibrillator to Arnold, who was still unresponsive, so Ahmed began to perform CPR. After two rounds of CPR—each consisting of 30 chest compressions and two breaths into Arnold’s mouth—Arnold regained consciousness and began gasping for air.
“He couldn’t say anything—couldn’t talk,” said Black. “I’m sure he could hear us.”
Arnold then lost his pulse again, causing Black to deliver another shock from the defibrillator. Black then performed a series of chest compressions and attempted to deliver two breaths, but he was unable to open Arnold’s mouth.
“His mouth was cemented shut,” said Black. “Jamal was like, ‘Modified jaw thrust! Modified jaw thrust,’ a thing that you do especially with someone who has had a head injury—you don’t move the neck. As he’s trying to do that, I retilted the head and pulled the mouth open.”
“It’s so much different from a mannequin to a live person, whether the air really went in or not,” said Black. “It’s the first time I’ve ever done it on a person.”
As Ahmed was performing more chest compressions, Arnold again regained consciousness and again began gasping for air.
“The second time he came through, his hand came up,” said Black. “I grabbed his hand, and I just said, ‘Stay with us. You’re here, stay with us. You’re going to be fine.’ As I was doing that, the EMTs got there.”
The medical technicians placed an oxygen mask on Arnold and checked his vital signs. Arnold was taken to Middlesex Hospital and later transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital.
“[The EMTs] just said, ‘Hey, you guys did a great job,’ said Black.”
Just your everyday heroes! Well done – Jamal, you will certainly get into med school.
Argus: Wrestling Coach and Ahmed ’09 Revive Heart Attack Victim
Hell yeah Jamal!
Hell yeah Jamal!
I heard Jamal can lift four elephants with his pinky.
I heard Jamal can lift four elephants with his pinky.
Someone sex that Jamal kid up.Hawtttt!!!
Someone sex that Jamal kid up.
Hawtttt!!!
I’ve always known that Jamal was better at life than I am. This cinches it.
I’ve always known that Jamal was better at life than I am. This cinches it.
Quote of the day, from Coach Black: “Jamal’s going to make a hell of a doctor.”
Quote of the day, from Coach Black:
“Jamal’s going to make a hell of a doctor.”
and it wouldn’t matter anyway. they saved him, so it must have been correct enough.
and it wouldn’t matter anyway. they saved him, so it must have been correct enough.
Yeah they definitely changed it. I learned 30 and 2 in my CPR class last year.
Yeah they definitely changed it. I learned 30 and 2 in my CPR class last year.
are you sure? I thought they changed the regulations to have more compressions.
are you sure? I thought they changed the regulations to have more compressions.
two rescuer cpr calls for a set of 15 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths, not 30 and 2, that would be for the one man cpr- take this off before they get sued
two rescuer cpr calls for a set of 15 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths, not 30 and 2, that would be for the one man cpr- take this off before they get sued
Did the Argus violate HEPA laws by releasing the victim’s name? Just curious.
Did the Argus violate HEPA laws by releasing the victim’s name? Just curious.
Great job guys. Proud to have you around.
Great job guys. Proud to have you around.
i did not think it was possible, but Coach Black just got cooler.
i did not think it was possible, but Coach Black just got cooler.
Hats off to those two, and a speedy recovery to Mr. Arnold!
Hats off to those two, and a speedy recovery to Mr. Arnold!
Coach Black is the man! Prior to this his personality is one that he would always help anyone. Today he is a true hereo. Way to go Coach B & Ahmed
Coach Black is the man! Prior to this his personality is one that he would always help anyone. Today he is a true hereo. Way to go Coach B & Ahmed
great, great job
great, great job
that’s great. heroes.
that’s great. heroes.
kudos. kudos.
kudos. kudos.
that’s awesome.
that’s awesome.