The unthinkable happened.  In December, we finally followed through on our plan from 2.5 years ago to purchase an AED. We read the literature and practiced with it when it arrived and Sunday evening during dinner Scott asked if I remembered what to do. Honestly, I’m known to panic when I see a loved one in a health emergency and he wanted to make sure I could save him. We never thought that it would be put to use the very next morning on a neighboring boat. 

I received a call from a friend in the boat across from us telling us to go out to the dock immediately with our AED. Scott grabbed it and ran to the dock without shoes or jacket and followed the directions of the folks on the docks to a nearby boat. I will spare you the details but sadly, they were not able to save the man. Watching the man ride down the dock in a body bag on a gurney is a sobering experience. 

We were the only boat on our dock that had an AED. The marina did not have an AED and the yacht club did not have an AED.  One never thinks that an AED will really be needed. 

One never thinks that it could be needed by a stranger. Although it did not save a life this time, perhaps it was comforting for the widow to know that everything possible was attempted. We are now prepared for the “UNTHINKABLE” and have 2 sets of pads, one for us and one for someone else in need.  I highly recommend purchasing an AED whether you live in a home, an RV or a boat. Contact Alan Karpas at alan@safetyinstituteofMD.com. He taught the life-saving course that we took which inspired us. We purchased a Heart Sine from him that is super simple to use.

Melissa E., Stuart, FL - 03/2021