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07/16/2008
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
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He collapsed on March 5, 2007, while riding a stationary bike in the fitness room of the Kennebec Valley YMCA.
One person started cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and another ran for Rob Pekins, the Y aquatics director and a CPR instructor.
Pekins hurried to Gould, calling for the automated external defibrillator.
A minute after Pekins gave Gould's heart a second jump-start with the defibrillator, Gould's heart began pumping again, and oxygen and blood started flowing back to his vital organs.
Augusta firefighter paramedics took over emergency treatment and brought Gould to the emergency room at MaineGeneral Medical Center. Gould was later transferred to a Portland hospital for followup treatment.
"It's such a great example of everyone in an entire system coming together and doing what they're supposed to do," said Al Nelson, a battalion chief at the Augusta Fire Department.
Now the Augusta Fire Department wants more people trained to do CPR and to operate the automated defibrillator.
"We want to get more people out there trained in CPR and on the AED so we can have more success stories," Nelson said.
So firefighters are offering a free, Heartsaver CPR training session that begins at 8 a.m. Sept. 13 at Cony High School.
The four-hour training is open to all Augusta residents plus those in Hallowell and Chelsea, which are response areas for the Augusta department, and all those who work full-time in Augusta.
The aim is to have a hundred or more people trained in this first go-round and offer other training sessions several times a year.
"Our end goal is to get more AEDs out in the community," Nelson said.
Augusta firefighter paramedic Greg Coniff said the course covers adult and child CPR, maneuvers to deal with a choking victim, and use of the AED.
"If anyone collapses, hopefully someone will be there to help resuscitate prior to the arrival of paramedics," Coniff said. "It's proven that the sooner CPR is started, oxygen and circulation start again."
The course has no age limit and no test. However, firefighters ask that people sign up for the course by Aug. 29 so enough instructors can be on hand.
"The Augusta Fire Department would like to increase the chances that you or a family member will survive a heart attack or stroke by providing you with the tools to make a difference," the department says in its promotional material about the event.
Signup is available by e-mail at CPR@augustamaine.gov or by calling the Augusta Fire Department at 626-2422.
A number of communities in other states, including Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, offer mass CPR training to their residents.
Today, Gould, 45, of Gardiner is back at his job at Kennebec Savings Bank and feeling much better.
He said he remains grateful to Pekins and the Augusta firefighter paramedics who helped save him.
"I don't remember a thing," said Gould, who was in an induced coma for a week following the incident. "I had no heart damage because of the quick response. What they said is I had no heartbeat for four or five minutes."
He's already prepared to help others. "I'm first aid and CPR certified through Kennebec Savings Bank," Gould said.
Pekins said it was the first time he was called on to use the AED in an emergency. The Y has three AEDs: two in Augusta and one in its Manchester site.
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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