TEENAGER AND YOUNGER BROTHER SAVE FATHER DURING CARDIAC ARREST

PRESS RELEASE FROM GOOD SAM

When 19-year old lifeguard, Sean Meigh, renewed his CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) Certification in early June, he believed he would use his life-saving skill on a beach or at a pool, not on the living room floor of his home in Garnerville, New York. Neither did he imagine that he would save the life of the man dearest to him; his father, Michael Meigh.

Mr. Meigh, a police sergeant with Amtrak, set out to complete some chores in his yard on what he believed to be a typical day at home. After pouring cement footings on his property, he felt as if he needed a break from the activity. He went in his home for a cool drink and a brief rest. He drank some water. As his body became extremely hot, he put on the air-conditioner. He began profusely sweating and feeling lightheaded. Certain he was dehydrated or having a heat stroke, he continued to rest and drink more water. As Sean prepared to take a shower, he asked that his 11 year-old brother, Connor, stay by their father to make sure that he would begin feeling better. That is the last thing Mr. Meigh remembers before blacking out and subsequently waking up in the Cardiac Care Unit of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Suffern, New York.

Connor quickly dialed 9-1-1 and requested an ambulance for his father while alerting his older brother of the situation. For the first time, Sean’s CPR skills were put to the test, as he immediately began using them on his father while Connor waited outside for the ambulance to arrive. “My adrenaline just kicked in and I did what I instinctively knew I should do,” stated Sean. “It never crossed my mind that I would have to actually have to save my father’s life – and if it weren’t for knowing CPR, I wouldn’t have been able to. Everyone should know CPR.”

“I never ever thought I was having a heart attack” stated Mr. Meigh, who is only 51 years of age and has no family history of cardiac problems. “I had no chest pains at all, actually no pain anywhere and just thought I was dehydrated or having a heat stroke.”

What Mr. Meigh remembers next is waking up in the hospital with his wife, Marian, at his side. He was shocked to learn that he had a heart attack and a procedure to place a stent in his blocked artery, under the care of Cary Hirsch, MD, FACC, of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and Bon Secours Medical Group of Suffern, New York.

CPR Classes are available at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Suffern, New York. Call 845-368-5000, extension 6791 for dates and more information.