NEWBERRY ‒ An Alachua County Fire Rescue captain is being credited with saving a woman’s life after she suffered cardiac arrest while attending a youth softball tournament last month at Champions Park in Newberry.
According to Alachua County Fire Rescue, Capt. Jennifer Allee was watching her daughter’s softball tournament when a player’s grandmother suddenly collapsed.
Recognizing the signs of cardiac arrest, Allee immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, while directing someone to retrieve an automated external defibrillator, or AED, from a nearby concession stand. Another parent called 911.
Within about two minutes of beginning CPR, Allee applied the AED and delivered a shock. Fire Rescue officials said the defibrillation restored the woman’s heartbeat before emergency crews transported her to a hospital for additional treatment.
The woman recovered and returned home several days later.
According to Fire Rescue, she has continued to improve and is once again attending her granddaughter’s softball games. She recently celebrated her birthday with the team.
Alachua County Fire Rescue commended Allee for her rapid response, saying her training and quick actions were instrumental in the successful outcome.
The incident also underscores the importance of having automated external defibrillators readily available in public places. AEDs are designed to analyze heart rhythms and deliver a life-saving shock when appropriate, significantly increasing survival rates when used quickly in conjunction with CPR.
Fire Rescue officials said the increasing availability of AEDs throughout the community continues to save lives by allowing bystanders and trained responders to begin treatment before patients reach a hospital.
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