Everyday Heroes
Starbucks Staffers Save A Life With Red Cross Training
An AED is a device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, tells the user to deliver a shock, using pads with electrodes, to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
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On Monday, April 15, 2002, employees of the Starbucks Coffee York Roasting Plant, 3000 Espresso Way in York, PA, responded to a call for help that would forever change another man's life. At 7:05 A.M., Arthur Conway, a temporary employee, was struck down in sudden cardiac arrest. Conway, a father in his late fifties, was in the hallway near the entrance to the plant when without warning he dropped to the floor, unconscious. Nearby and hearing the unmistakable sound, Starbucks staffers Judy Borror, Zenda Edwards and Joyce Shortencarrier immediately went into action.
Borror ran to Conway's side to check on his condition. After verifying he was indeed in distress, Borror enlisted the assistance of emergency response team member Linda Harrell, while Edwards remained with Conway and Joyce Shortencarrier contacted 911. Within moments, other members of the plant's emergency response team arrived on the scene.
Starbucks partners Sherry Witmer, Jess Venable, Chuck Hoffman, and Linda Harrell, trained in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and CPR by the American Red Cross, knew exactly what to do and how to do it. After assessing the situation and seeing Conway's color noticeably worsening, Witmer ran to the area where the AED was stored. Hoffman, Harrell, Venable, and Edwards remained with Conway. By time Witmer returned with the AED, CPR had already been initiated. The team of Starbucks partners worked together. Hoffman attached the AED pads to Conway. Using the AED machine, Conway was shocked once and then was given one minute of CPR. Venable and Hoffman took turns applying the compressions and Witmer and Harrell took turns administering the breaths. After those heroic actions were taken, a pulse was detected.
"We were all very nervous," said an overwhelmed Hoffman, "but having the Red Cross training and the AED with the instructions printed on it helped us remain calm. The definite benefit of having an AED machine is that it analyzed Arthur and let us know exactly what was happening - that our efforts were successful."
Rob Bowen agreed. "We purchased the AED machine about 8 months ago after we attended the Red Cross seminar at the York Wallcoverings plant. This was the first incident of any kind, for most of us, but there was never any hesitation to get involved."
Paramedics arrived on the scene moments later to provide advanced care. Conway, given a second chance at life, was brought to Memorial Hospital. Conway's son, Chris, stated "The doctors who are caring for my father told me that they are certain that the Starbucks partners saved my dad's life by using the AED-a machine that I have never even seen."
"It was a remarkable experience for everyone involved, commented Steven Hurwitz, Starbucks Director of Partner Resources for the York roasting plant. Starbucks has been a major supporter of the American Red Cross and we are proud that our partners were able to put to good use the health and safety training that is available to every business in our community. The bottom line is that Red Cross training saves lives."
In 1999, the American Red Cross launched a program to train everyday Americans how to jump-start a heart using an AED. Last year, the York County Chapter worked with York Wallcoverings Safety Committee to research AED devices and then trained approximately 12 employees how to use them. Following the purchase of the AED machines, the company's Emergency Response Team saved the life of 58 year-old Paul Smith, fellow employee, husband, and father of three. Smith survived quadruple bi-pass surgery after the incident and has fully recovered.
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