“It was a normal day, just setting up coolers and my kits. I was about 10 or 15 feet away when it happened, and I immediately grabbed my jump bag—my emergency kit with all my supplies and the AED.”
The automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device used to treat cardiac arrest, which Ochoa quickly deployed. As he worked, a bystander also jumped in to assist.
“I had a referee come up and say, ‘Hey, I’m CPR certified. I can help.’ I told him to start compressions, and we got going."
After two cycles of CPR, Ochoa and the others heard the gasp they were hoping for—Cuarda was responding to their efforts.
Thanks to the quick actions of Ochoa and his team, Cuarda was stabilized and transported to the hospital, where he is now recovering. Ochoa emphasized how crucial it was to have so many hands ready to help.
“Thank God we had people to open gates and make sure the ambulance could park close. That made a huge difference.”
Reflecting on the experience, Ochoa urged the importance of CPR training.
“You never know when someone’s going to need that kind of help. You can save a life or at least preserve it until the ambulance arrives.”
Ochoa also advocated for the availability of AEDs in both schools and public places, stated:
“The more access we have to AEDs, the more lives we can save.”
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