WWMT-TV Channel 3 reported this morning that 9-year-old Logan Vangemert, a Brandon Elementary School fourth-grader, was honored by the American Heart Association for his lifesaving efforts with hands-only CPR.
Vangemert said he had only just learned hands-only CPR in class less than 24 hours before he had to apply it in real life. He performed the feat in the children’s room at his church when the supervisor, Tom, fell to the floor with sudden cardiac arrest. While adults struggled to roll him over, and froze, the child met the challenge.
“You go like this for CPR…” Vangemert said, gesturing to News Channel 3 on how he did compressions on Tom’s chest, “I did CPR on him.”
An automated external defibrillator (AED) was located and used shortly afterward to restart Tom’s heart. He has now made a full recovery following quadruple bypass surgery and the placement of a pacemaker.
The American Heart Association’s “Kid’s Heart Challenge” representatives hold assemblies in which they provide video material to schools teaching the importance of heart health and hands-only CPR.
The school engagement development director for the American Heart Association said,”A lot of times there’s, you know, bystanders around cardiac arrest and a lot people won’t jump into action. It’s because they haven’t been prepared, they haven’t watched videos. Luckily, Logan, the day before, watched the video. He knew exactly what to do.”
Vangemert was among several other students who were honored at the assembly for raising money for the association. As a reward, they got to spray a faculty member with silly string.
