Teen Saved By Father's Co-Workers
From Newsday, NY
April 26, 2008

A 14-year-old collapsed from heart problems during a visit to his father's workplace Friday, but luckily, his father's workplace happened to include a defibrillator.

The teen was visiting Suffolk police headquarters in Yaphank for a "bring your child to work day" when he collapsed.

With the boy's breathing irregular and even stopping, police and 911 dispatchers sprang into action, starting CPR and hooking the boy up to an automated external defibrillator.

"He couldn't have picked a better place or a better time, if you had any choice in things that happened," said dispatch supervisor Patricia Dunn, who came to the teen's aid.

The teen collapsed about 8:05 a.m. Officers ran to get emergency medical technicians and grab the defibrillator, which shocks the heart and restores its rhythm.

Dunn, who teaches CPR, began administering oxygen with Officer Roy Seibert and dispatcher Johnathan Eck. Dunn said they started CPR and used the defibrillator until the boy's heartbeat and breathing were stabilized and he was transferred to an ambulance.

Police said the child is now doing well. They declined to release his or his father's names or details of the boy's condition.

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