Lessons learned, life saved

HAYDEN LAKE — Jameson Elliott thought he was just going for a golf lesson at the Hayden Lake Country Club Saturday.

It turned into a mad dash to help a fallen man.

“I‘m glad I was there,” he said Tuesday.

The sophomore at Lakeland High School was practicing in the indoor golf simulator when he heard a cry for help. While his instructor ran outside, he looked out the window and saw an older man prone on the ground at the pickleball courts about 25 yards away. A nurse was assisting him.

It was then Elliott remembered something he saw a few weeks earlier hanging on a wall near the club’s kitchen: an AED (automated external defibrillator), which is used to help those experiencing cardiac arrest. 

He ran back, grabbed it, and sprinted to the man on the ground. He told his golf instructor to cut the man’s shirt open, turned on the AED and attached the electrodes to the man’s chest.

“It was ready to go,” Elliott said.

As the AED analyzed the man’s heartbeat, Jameson waited to determine what to do next.

The voice-automated answer came.

“It said, 'Do not shock,’” Jameson said.

Then, the man began to regain consciousness.

Elliott and others breathed a sigh of relief.

“He was all good,” Jameson said.

Shortly, EMTs arrived and whisked the man to the hospital, who reportedly is recovering and may undergo surgery, Jameson said.

Erin Elliott, Jameson’s mom, was proud of her son. She said it was an emotional moment and she teared up when she heard of his quick reaction to help someone.

She noted that a key to the situation was, her son knew the location of the AED and how to use it.

“I think it’s God-given to have that cool under pressure,” she said. “For a 16-year-old to have the poise to do what he did, I was burning with pride.”

According to the American Red Cross, sudden cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death in the United States.

"In fact, more than 350,000 people will suffer a cardiac arrest this year. Currently, the only way to restore a regular heart rhythm during cardiac arrest is to use an AED," Red Cross says.

The average response time for first responders once 911 is called is 8-12 minutes, and for each minute defibrillation is delayed, the odds of survival are reduced by approximately 10%, Red Cross said.

"Having access to an AED and knowing how to use one is critical," Red Cross said.

Jameson said he heard a recent presentation at school from the Northern Lakes Fire District and the program included information about AEDs. He heard about what they do and watched a demonstration on using them. He knew quick reaction was key to recovery.

He described it as “super easy.”

He remembered what he learned during that four-minute emergency, start to finish.

“I didn’t realize I would ever have to use those skills,” he said.

A football player, he can run fast. He covered nearly half the length of a football field to the AED and then to the downed man in about 20 seconds.

“I was sprinting as fast as I could,” he said. “It’s all about timing.”

Since then, Jameson has been congratulated as the story of his heroics made the rounds. An article is planned in the school newspaper.

The situation, and his reaction, confirmed for Jameson one thing: He wants to work in medicine and be a surgeon.

“That confirmed my desire,” he said.