Mike and Shannon administered a shock from the AED and as Michelle describes it, as soon as they did, Subramaniam, “came back.”
Subramaniam reflects on his first thoughts when he regained consciousness. “I knew I had a heart problem. I knew that something happened. The paramedics were putting me in the ambulance and I remember joking around with them. I didn’t realize the intensity of what happened: that I died and I was then revived.”
Subramaniam said he quickly realized how lucky he was. “My doctor told me that after seven minutes without oxygen, the brain starts to lose function. I didn’t breathe for four minutes. It took 11 minutes for the ambulance to come.”
As a nurse trained in CPR, Shannon knows one thing for certain. “I believe the AED, as research shows, was what saved Subramaniam. Mike and I were able to circulate what oxygenated blood he had left, until it arrived.”
Mike agrees. “I think it was fortunate Subramaniam had his incident where and when he did, as he was surrounded by people who took immediate and decisive action. I am thankful that an AED was present on campus and that Michelle was quick thinking and ran to get it.
I have been CPR-/AED-certified for many years, but putting it into action for real brings a whole new level of awareness.”