ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Thursday, Oct. 16 is World Restart a Heart Day. It’s a day dedicated to raising awareness about cardiac arrest and showcasing the importance of learning CPR. Workers at the Albany International Airport experienced first-hand why it’s important after a man nearly lost his life last month.
On September 8 at the Southwest ticket desk, John Bonhotal, a man just checking in for his flight, went into cardiac arrest. If it was not for the staff’s immediate response, his chances of survival would have been a low possibility.
“I remember I was carrying my duffel bag, which had all my hiking gear, and it was quite heavy. I had probably carried well over 100 pounds worth of gear on my back and in the bag and so on. And, you know, I stopped a couple of times to rest, but other than that, I was feeling okay,” said Bonhotal.
But even when someone may look and feel alright, sometimes, the unexpected can still happen.
“I remember grabbing the stanchion and then going down, and that’s about it. After that, I remember waking up kind of in the ambulance,” said Bonhotal.
The people who helped save his life were Patrick “Brady” Tripp and Michelle Nestler from Southwest Airlines. They were the first to respond immediately. After, Albany County Sheriff Deputies Thomas Connelly and Matthew Riley responded and stepped in.
“I think Michelle was with me and Brady went to grab the aid, and then the sheriff’s [deputies] came over. They were in already, and they did the CPR. They did a good job. I was sore for a week but alive,” said Bonhotal.
Since Bonhotal’s memory was a little foggy from that day, he wanted to meet in-person and thank the people who saved his life, so the team at Albany airport made that happen.
According to the American Heart Association at Thursday’s event, “Each year, over 350,000 people suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with only about 10% surviving. Performing CPR can significantly increase the chances of survival, doubling or even tripling them.”
The defibrillator program at the airport started in 2002 and has made tremendous progress.
“We now have expanded to 37 AEDs, which are the defibrillators. We have 25 certified instructors to provide CPR and aid training, airport wide at no cost to the employees and tenants,” said Peter Stuto, the CEO of Albany International Airport.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Department also has been continuously making sure they have been doing their part.
“They received 48 hours of EMS, CPR training during their law enforcement training,” said Albany County Sheriff Chief Deputy Charles Higgins.
And in addition to that, “Our law enforcement EMS training unit offers annual CPR certifications for all of our staff,” said Chief Deputy Higgins.
Two weeks after Bonhotal’s cardiac arrest when he was cleared by his doctors, he has been out and about. He hiked 6.2 miles at Rochester Hollow and nearly 7 miles at Fly Mountain along with several other hikes.
“I made up a decision, a personal decision, to live every day like it’s your last,” said Bonhotal.
It’s important to recognize that cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, regardless of their health status. It’s critical to know the signs of cardiac arrest and to know how to respond in an emergency situation, and the experience Bonhotal went through is living proof of why.
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