“Without that (device) and without her there, the doctors said my son would have probably died,” said Phil Martinez. “. . . I can’t tell you how grateful my wife and I are that they were there and handling the situation the way they did.
Martinez, a 5-foot-6, 160-pound running back, will undergo surgery today at University Medical Center. Doctors on Wednesday diagnosed him with ventricular fibrillation.
As it appeared in the Tucson Citizen
"These are things you hope you never have to use, but why risk not having one ready to go if something does happen?" -- Deana Schneider, the athletic trainer at Cienega High School who saved Emilio Martinez's life
Deana Schneider, the athletic trainer at Cienega High School who saved Emilio Martinez’s life with the defibrillator, urged Cienega to purchase the Cardiac Science Powerheart AED G3 device in July 2008.
Geoff Grammer from the Tucson Citizen writes, “Even as schools and districts across the country, including Cienega, shave budgets, assistant principal and head football coach Nemer Hassey said the school will buy two more defibrillators to place around campus before the 2009-10 school year begins.
‘It’s a no-brainer,’ Hassey said. ‘You do more fundraisers or find other areas to work around. But cutting back on stuff like this, things that are about safety, you can’t cut corners on that.’”
More schools getting AED devices to treat cardiac arrest next year
The article mentions a few Arizona schools without AEDs plan to bring them on campus next year.
Flowing Wells Athletic Director Pat Weber said in an e-mail yesterday the school has “put in for several for the next school year.”
Moved to leave a comment for Emilio
I rarely leave comments on behalf of the Company but was moved to do so today. On the Tucson Citizen site I left a note to Emilio and his parents:
“We’re so grateful that the Cardiac Science Powerheart team was there to get an AED to Cienega.
Emilio’s life save makes it all worthwhile – it’s why we do what we do.
I encourage you to visit this AED at schools link to get an AED in your school.
Congratulations, Martinez family. Give us updates from time to time how Emilio is doing.”
Your turn
Leave a comment below for Emilio and his family.
Last 5 posts
- Cardiac Science AEDs in Spain [VIDEO] - April 4th, 2011
- Cardiac Science wins first major public access defibrillation program in Europe - March 30th, 2011
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- Sad stories, avoidable deaths? - March 23rd, 2011
- Texas school's AED saves 6-year-old's life - March 22nd, 2011
May 1st, 2009 at 10:21 am
Joe, here are the details:
Emilio Martinez
High School Football Player
Cienega High School
Vail, AZ
…
17-year-old
Shocked at 192 Joules @ 55 ohms
Shocked with: Powerheart G3 Semi-Auto 9390E
…
SAVED By:
Ms. Deana Schneider, MS, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer
Cienega High School
Vail, AZ
…
HELPED By:
Mr. Jay Johnson
Assistant Football Coach
Strength & Conditioning Teacher
Cienega High School
Vail, AZ
May 1st, 2009 at 10:31 am
Excellent, Jonathan. Thanks for the update.
May 1st, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I just got off the phone with Jonathan and I was amazed to hear that Emilio was back at school after one week.
Jonathan told me that Emilio’s implantable defibrillator already fired off twice.
It is a great to know our AED helped save his life.
May 4th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Nearby Queen Creek saw the Emilio story and acted to put defibrillators in four town facilities. Read about it here: AED Queen Creek story
May 12th, 2009 at 10:40 am
The Tuscon Citizen ran a follow-up editorial on the story, highlighting Deana Schneider’s quick action with the Cardiac Science AED.
Here is the link: Tuscon Citizen editorial