Employee helps save man’s life

A Recreational Sports employee, a UW–Madison student and two former Madison firefighter-paramedics have been credited with saving the life of a 52-year-old man who suffered a heart attack while running at the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center on April 30.

When it was reported that a man had collapsed on the track, was unresponsive and may have suffered a seizure, Beth Reuter, a financial specialist at the center, instinctively grabbed the automatic external defibrillator at the front desk. Paul Elvord and student Peter Halverson had already begun CPR. Reuter placed the pads on the man’s chest and hooked up the defibrillator. She administered one shock, which revived the man and caused him to sit up. Elvord and Leotha Stanley, who is now the campus community liaison for the Morgridge Center, continued to monitor his condition until paramedics arrived and transported him to a hospital.

John Paine, associate director of Recreational Sports, says seven defibrillators were purchased for its four facilities in 2000. He says this was the first time one has saved a life. All of the division’s professional staff members are required to take defibrillators and CPR training, and a majority of its classified staff members, including Reuter, have attended training voluntarily.

“Beth did exactly what she was trained to do and handled herself beautifully,” says Paine. “She stepped forward and did an outstanding job and she deserves applause.”

“It was very much a team effort,” Reuter says, adding that she was amazed how calmly she responded to the situation. The defibrillators “are very user-friendly, and my training just came back to me and seemed like second nature,” she says. I definitely recommend the training.”