University of Richmond recognizes students' actions during rescue effort, raises awareness for "Go Red for Women" campaign
January 28, 2008
When Susan Gilmore went to her Pilates class at University of Richmond's Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness on her birthday, she had no idea a heart condition would cause her to leave the class on a gurney with a five percent chance of survival.
During the class, Gilmore collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest, a condition caused by a malfunction of the internal electrical system controlling the heartbeat rhythm, resulting in a stopped heartbeat. The condition has a 95 percent mortality rate and is the leading cause of natural death in the United States at 325,000 adult deaths per year. The only chance for survival is immediate attention.
Within minutes of Gilmore's collapse, a student employee and two staff members began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR.) A university police officer later provided an automated external defibrillator (AED) to help restore her heartbeat.
"The first few moments were very frightening because I saw that she was having difficulty breathing," says Josh Anderson, the student employee who was one of the first on the scene.
Gilmore was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital. Most victims suffering from her condition die within two minutes if CPR is not started during that time. In Gilmore's case, the immediate action of UR's first-response team began within that window, drastically increasing her chances of survival.
"I had no warning-it hit me from behind because I'm in the best shape of my life," Gilmore, a stay-at-home mom, says. "Thank God there were so many people there who knew what to do and were willing to step up to the plate."
On Feb. 6, she will return to the Weinstein Center to attend a ceremony recognizing the people who played a key role in her rescue. The event begins at 5 p.m. in the Weinstein Center and President Edward L. Ayers will present citation awards to three students who responded during the crisis. The American Heart Association will recognize several groups involved in the rescue effort.
The event is part of a joint collaboration between University of Richmond and the American Heart Association for the "Go Red for Women" campaign, a national effort to raise awareness about the importance of women's heart health. Following the ceremony, the front exterior of the Weinstein Center will be illuminated with red lights which will burn for the entire month of February.
"This rescue effort could not have been successful without the diligence of everyone involved," says Tom Roberts, director of the Weinstein Center. "Each step of the process was essential and very well executed."