By Tiffany Merlo Phelps
mail@floridanewsline.com
The Brown Family YMCA in Ponte Vedra Beach saved John Perkner’s life in July 2022.
Perkner, a longtime YMCA board member, had returned from a vacation in the Cayman Islands and then fell ill. Once recovered, he went to the Brown Family YMCA to play basketball with his buddies and after the second game, he passed out. He did not have any chest pains or shortness of breath, just felt light headed for a few seconds before he passed out; however, his friends knew right away that he was probably in cardiac arrest or cardiac arrhythmia. The early morning basketball crew, along with the staff at the Brown Y, acted quickly. One person started CPR immediately while someone else called 911 and went to get the AED on site.
After one shock, Perkner said he came around and was lucid on the ambulance ride to the Mayo Clinic. Perkner, 66, underwent extensive testing for heart attack and blockages in the days that followed. He decided to take aggressive action and have open heart surgery and to have bypass done. He also had an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) implanted in his chest. Three months later, Perkner returned to the courts.
Perkner’s story illustrates the importance of CPR training and having access to an AED. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 350,000, including 23,000 children, have cardiac arrest each year. Proper training is key during these critical moments when time is of the essence, said the AHA.
Dr. Michael Cunningham, cardiologist at Ascension/St. Vincent’s Cardiology, said early CPR and AEDs have been proven to save lives, and he has seen many lives saved in his career as a cardiologist.
“In regards to the AEDs, every minute one is down with a rhythm that would respond to a shock, a person’s likelihood of surviving the cardiac arrest decreases by about 10 percent. The early shock from an AED results in an increased chance of a life being saved,” said Cunningham.
Having the AED on site and people willing to use it to administer this aid is critical, Cunningham said.
“Early in my career, we helped bring the first community AEDs to Jacksonville. The first device was placed in the airport, with a bit of resistance, as it seemed worrisome to the local regulatory agencies to allow public access to an AED. Now, fortunately, it’s common to see these lifesaving devices,” he said.
Cara Roach, Brown Family YMCA associate executive director, said the Y equips its employees with the knowledge to act swiftly and decisively in any emergency, ensuring the well-being and safety of everyone at the YMCA. All employees undergo Basic Life Support, First Aid and Oxygen training.
“Additionally, our lifeguards are required to participate in four hours of monthly in-service training. Investing in CPR training for our staff at the YMCA is more than a commitment to safety; it’s a dedicated pledge to be the lifeline in times of crisis,” she said.
Perkner said he will always be grateful to the staff and members of the Brown Family YMCA. One year later in 2023, he was able to return the favor.
“One year, one day and one minute to the time of my event, another member had an almost identical event to mine while playing basketball,” said Perkner. “He fell after the second game, and we all thought he had twisted his ankle. He was lying face down, and he was not moving, and I thought that was strange. I rolled him over, and he was turning blue.”
Again, a member started CPR right away, Perkner called 911 and grabbed the AED.
“I knew that is what saved my life,” said Perkner, who followed the prompts of the device along with a Y lifeguard. After one shock, Perkner said the member’s color returned, and he started to breathe. More CPR was conducted, and the member was talking as the ambulance arrived. That member is also doing well today.
“Having both members who are willing to act and having trained staff around and having an AED that is fully functioning and state-of-the-art, that makes a huge difference. It is a positive message when you have two people who had a significant event in the same place, and both survived and are back to normal activity.”
To find CPR training classes, go to heart.org/nation.
Photo courtesy Cara Roach
Lifeguards Albio Jakupi, Bryce Bernstein and Dan Firitz at the Brown Family YMCA doing a monthly practice session of their life-saving skills.
