By: Peyton Headlee
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. —
The family of a teen whose life was saved by CPR is hoping to save others by spreading awareness of CPR training.
On Saturday, hundreds of people learned CPR at the Blue Valley Hilltop Center. First responders from Johnson County led the 20-minute training sessions.
13Beats planned the event. It’s a local organization spreading awareness about the importance of being CPR trained.
“We want everybody armed to be able to save a life waiting for first responders to arrive,” founder Ashley Dwight said. “We’re really trying to just get people in the door and get them trained.”
It’s a cause that is close to her heart.
“We owe our son’s life to two men that jumped in, and we just feel the need to pay it forward,” she said.
Last August, her 17-year-old son Davis Dwight suffered sudden cardiac arrest during baseball practice. His coaches used CPR to save his life for 13 minutes.
Coach Nikolaus Crouch and former Royals catcher Mike Macfarlane gave him that lifesaving CPR.
“I’m just thankful that 40-some-odd years ago I did take it and learned what I needed to do. And it stuck with me,” Macfarlane said. “Make sure that you hit your knees and save a life. Do what you can to help that person live. There’s no greater reward than that. And it’s been very fulfilling for me. ”
“We want everybody to know how to do that same thing,” Ashley Dwight said.
Both are glad to advocate for CPR. They’re hopeful the lessons learned at the training will help to save more lives.
13Beats hosted another training event in October. Both taught hundreds of people CPR. All of it was free.
Davis is back to playing baseball. Dwight said doctors never found a reason for the sudden cardiac arrest.
