SPRINGFIELD, Va. — What should have been a normal day for a 65-year-old woman in Fairfax County became life or death. But with the help of eight people, Linda Carr survived.
On Sept. 13, Carr was participating in a Zumba class at South Run Recreation Center when she went into cardiac arrest. This is when class members and Fairfax County Park Authority employees from the rec center immediately took action.
The class instructor and a participant noticed the emergency and provided CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) aid before emergency personnel arrived. A lifeguard and manager also helped by providing additional CPR and AED support. All while another lifeguard called 911 for help.
The front desk associate also contacted 911 and provided additional help to those at the scene while another employee cleared the pool so that others could provide care to Carr. At the pool was Carr's husband, who was also notified of the emergency.
"Mrs. Carr likely would not have survived without the quick actions of the employees and visitors at South Run Recreation Center," the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said in a news release.
When someone has sudden cardiac arrest every minute counts -- with every minute that passes without CPR and AED help a person's chance of survival decreases by 10%. It is also noted that it is important that a victim received lifesaving care before EMS arrival as that could take a few minutes.
On Monday, Carr was supposed to be reunited with the bystanders, dispatchers, and fire and rescue department personnel who worked together to save her life in a reunion event, but the event was cancelled. It is currently unknown if there will be a rescheduled event.