The last time Michael Brower saw Gary Barton and Gay Trost he was being brought back to life after suffering a heart attack. Barton and Trost had called 911 and performed life-saving CPR on Michael while emergency responders were on the way.
On Tuesday, May 22 Michael Brower will see them again when Barton, Trost, and the CCFR firefighter/EMTs who performed life-saving measures will be recognized by CCFR at 6:00 p.m. at CCFR Station #3, 511 Willott Rd., St. Peters, MO 63376.
When leaving a job at a local resident’s home just before noon on April 17th, Michael suffered cardiac arrest, and collapsed near his truck. Across the street Barton saw Michael lying on the ground, he ran to Trost’s house for assistance and the two leapt into action. Trost called 911 and then went outside to assist Barton who was performing lifesaving CPR until firefighter/EMTs from Central County Fire & Rescue (CCFR) arrived on the scene.
When CCFR arrived on the scene Michael was blue and didn’t have a pulse. “We started chest compressions and administered oxygen while the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) was attached,” explains CCFR Captain Brad Peters.
As paramedics from the St. Charles County Ambulance District arrived the AED shocked Michael’s heart one time. Paramedics hooked up the AutoPulse, an automated CPR device that straps around a patient’s chest and delivers compressions at a consistent rate and depth. Shortly after it was activated Michael began breathing on his own and regained a pulse.
Michael Brower’s story demonstrates the importance of learning CPR, you never know when you will need these skills to save a life,” says CCFR Chief Russ Mason.