A training exercise at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin, became a real emergency earlier this year when EMS instructor Carl Arps suffered a heart attack while demonstrating symptoms for his students inside a training ambulance. Students initially believed he was acting as part of the scenario, but quickly realized the situation was serious after noticing discoloration in his face. Another instructor, Tracy Blondo, immediately took charge and directed students to bring a backboard as the class began responding to the emergency.
The students called 911, removed Arps from the ambulance and took turns performing CPR while waiting for additional medical help. He had suffered what’s known as a “widowmaker” heart attack and he later described surviving it as feeling “like one in a trillion.” According to the Red Cross, less than 10% of cardiac arrest that happen outside a hospital are survived.
Arps recently returned to the classroom to thank the six students who helped save his life, calling it something he would “never forget.” He says he left the hospital after a week and is continuing his recovery while working to return to teaching. Reflecting on the students’ actions, Blondo says, “You wonder if they’re getting it. I don’t have to ask that now,” while Arps adds that every student “definitely” earned “100% on CPR.” See the video here