“At 42 and with no warning signs, Erie resident Laura Whipple went into cardiac arrest in the early morning hours of March 29. Her husband, Tim, awoke to sounds of her gasping. Years of CPR training kicked in, helping him to save her life while directing their three children in what to do.”
Tim Whipple’s family and his 35 years of CPR training were put to the test when their beloved wife and mother went into cardiac arrest one March morning. Laura Whipple is alive and well today because her family worked together to put their training into motion, despite their fears.
Tim recalls that he called for his kids’ help when he couldn’t get a response or a pulse from Laura. The children, ages 14 to 20, assisted in different ways. Collin called 911, Travis helped Tim place Laura on the floor, and Kaitlyn performed respiration while Tim performed chest compressions. Tim helped Kaitlyn find confidence when she became worried and unsure.
The Whipple family demonstrated the importance of keeping calm, working as a team, and reminding each other of their abilities.
Laura Whipple represents some staggering statistics: That 88 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home. That many victims seem perfect healthy, with no symptoms of heart disease until they stop breathing. And sadly but perhaps most important to remember, that the person you perform CPR on is, statistically, going to be someone you love.
I think this story is pretty incredible, and one that demonstrates the need for every family member to know what to do in the all too possible possibility that one of them will need CPR.
Here is the original story, from Monroenews.com.
