Paying it forward
Paying it forward
Wanting to give back after his own life-changing experience, John became a GoodSAM responder to help others during those first few critical moments.
A fit and active bike rider, sailor, and cross-country skier, John Tilleard, never expected to have a sudden cardiac arrest while out for a ride with his friends seven years ago. But he did.
Lucky for him, John’s friends immediately recognised his symptoms and began CPR. Thirty minutes later the ambulance arrived, administering adrenalin to revive him. He was then taken the nearest hospital, where he remained in ICU for 3 days.
“It makes you think about what you have and the people that helped me stay alive. I have had six grandchildren since my cardiac arrest and I wouldn’t have known them, and they wouldn’t have known me if the outcome was different,” said John.
“I’m one of the lucky 5% of people who have had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Victoria and survived. I’m lucky I was riding with mates who recognised what was happening and were capable, decisive, and determined to do everything they could possibly do to save my life.”
“I affectionately refer to my friends and the others who attended the incident as ‘my six angels’,” shares John.
A huge part of John’s recovery was an immense feeling of gratitude. John continues to speak fondly of his “six angels and the incredible luck that resulted in my second chance at life, I wanted to somehow pay that appreciation forward and that’s when I decided to become a GoodSAM responder.”
Last year, on average, a global network of 1.5 million GoodSAM volunteers collectively helped save lives from sudden cardiac arrest every 3 minutes. GoodSAM is an integrated program that connects Emergency Medical Services with volunteer responders (via the GoodSAM App) to a nearby suspected cardiac arrest. You can download the GoodSAM App via the AppStore or Google Play if you interested in becoming a responder.
“To survive and recover like I have, I know from my experience you need someone there fast. GoodSAM can do that.”
Three years later, while out on another bike ride, John’s friend, Nick, went into sudden cardiac arrest. Quickly recognising what was going on, John leapt into action and started performing CPR.
Knowing what to do and having acted quickly, John helped keep Nick alive until Emergency Services arrived and took over. Today, John and Nick continue to enjoy bike rides throughout The Mornington Peninsula with their group of friends.
Following on from both incidents, John came across CellAED®, the world’s first personal defibrillator and thought “this product will make a difference and I need to get my hands on one asap!”
“CellAED® is very simple to use, with the voice prompts starting as soon as the device is activated, literally telling you what to do every step of the way, including when to do CPR and when the device will deliver shocks,“ says John.
Since owning his CellAED®, John has been called out via the GoodSAM App on several occasions to attend to suspected sudden cardiac arrests, within his local community of Somers, Victoria.
Just recently, John was called to a household just down the road, where a bystander had already begun CPR. John arrived within a few minutes of the call and swiftly applied CellAED®, which delivered a total of six shocks before paramedics arrived and took over.
This was John’s first experience using CellAED® and he was quick to SNAP PEEL STICK™, and in his words, “I suddenly felt some relief as the voice prompts took over in a way as they guided me through the procedure, until the ambulance soon arrived”.
Being part of the GoodSAM network means volunteers like John can be at the scene within minutes, which helps to significantly increase someone’s chance of survival.
Because of John and the paramedics that were called to the scene, the patient was alive and survived 25 minutes before getting to ICU.
While responders often never find out what happens to their patients once they are taken away in the ambulance, John recently found out the patient survived for several weeks in ICU, but sadly, later passed away.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threating condition, and the reality is, many people do not survive.
“Being a GoodSAM volunteer is the least I can do because I have been so lucky. It's a privilege to be part of a team that makes a difference, to be called upon to assist where and when I can, and to know I did everything I could to help keep that person alive before the paramedics arrived is such an incredible feeling”.
One of the benefits of CellAED for lifeTM membership is that it includes replacing your CellAED® if used in an emergency. T&Cs apply.
The information shared in this story is based solely on the interviewee’s account and personal experience. We do not have access to any additional details beyond what has been provided. Our thoughts are with those affected by sudden cardiac arrest.