CALDWELL, Idaho — The Caldwell Fire Department is recognizing the first recipients of the Citizen Hero Award. YMCA staff responded to Adalberto Sosa, who had a heart attack, by providing CPR and defibrillation with an AED. Caldwell Fire Department and Canyon County Paramedics arrived on scene and Sosa is now making a full recovery.

• The critical window before minor brain damage is 5 minutes.
• YMCA staff provided CPR and AED defibrillation when Adalberto fainted.
• Treasure Valley YMCA offers CPR certifications and you can find that information here. Here. Caldwell Fire told me, “You never know when you’re going to use it. Whether it’s on family members or bystanders, it can be used at any time.”

(Below you can find the transcript of the broadcast story)

“I started feeling tired, and when I slowed down… I started noticing that my heart wasn’t slowing down,” says YMCA guest Adalberto Sosa. “My heart was really racing. And I slowed the machine down. I started walking. And things started to get a little blurry, and I couldn’t see very well, and I thought, I have to stop the machine.” “

That’s when Adalberto Sosa’s world went dark. He had a heart attack.

A month later, the Caldwell Fire Department presents its first Citizen Hero Award. YMCA staff responded immediately, a testament to their preparedness.

“We have staff throughout the entire facility trained in CPR, First Aid, and AED,” says Caldwell YMCA Executive Director.

Alberto has eight children. “That would be really devastating because I have young children. I don’t know what the news would be like for them. But it would be really bad,” she says.

Y personnel provided life-saving CPR and defibrillation until Caldwell Fire Department arrived, followed by Canyon County Paramedics.

“When our crews arrived, they noticed that the staff working on the patient was performing high-quality CPR with defibrillation, transferred care to our crews, and then proceeded with another defibrillation,” Caldwell Fire’s Deputy Chief of Operations Matt Shupe told me.

“This was a huge team effort on our part by the YMCA staff. It was up to each of us to bring Adalberto back,” added Canyon County EMS.

Caldwell Fire told me that the speed of the YMCA team was crucial to Alberto’s recovery; The critical time interval before minimal brain damage was 5 minutes.

“I’m in much better shape, and if it wasn’t for the Y’s staff, I understand my chances of not only surviving, but walking, talking, are very slim. I’m talking to you right now, which is a really good testament to what they did,” Adalberto adds.