PLATTSBURGH — In a life-saving situation, minutes are critical, and a group of local first responders were on time to save a life last fall.
“They say a cat’s got nine lives. I think I’m coming pretty close to that,” Rick St Clair, a recipient of those life-saving measures, declared during a ceremony Friday to honor those who helped him.
On the cold and windy evening of Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at about 6:36 p.m., St. Clair suffered a sudden cardiac emergency causing him to fall unconscious while looking for a seat before the Section VII Class B championship football game between local rivals Beekmantown Eagles and Peru Night Hawks at Plattsburgh High School.
“The first thing I did was sit on the bottom of the bleachers. and I happened to look back, I said, ‘Boy, big crowd tonight,’ and the last thing I knew, I looked at my watch, and then lights out.” St Clair said.
“They say there’s a heaven and hell. I didn’t see either of them. I was in darkness. I couldn’t hear nothing. I couldn’t see nothing. It was scary. I was out for probably, I don’t know, four, four-and-a-half minutes, and these fine people behind me… I hold my gratitude and thanks to everyone of you for helping to save my life that night.”
HELP ARRIVED
There were a number of spectators already in the bleachers, some of whom were off duty, trained professionals who quickly intervened to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation on St. Clair.
Those included Nick Walker, critical care EMT with Morrisonville EMS; Tim LaBar, RN at CVPH; George Ciolac, a physician at CVPH; Austin Newell, firefighter from Peru Fire Department and Marissa Doucette, a critical care EMT and RN at CVPH, as well as others all jumped to begin treating the unconscious St. Clair.
This crew took turns administering chest compressions and rescue breathing while Chris Hartman, athletic director for the Plattsburgh City School District, retrieved the Automated External Defibrillator from the concession stand.
“My background as a veteran coach has made me acutely aware of the importance of CPR and having an AED accessible,” Hartman said.
“I am thankful that we have made this a priority with our coaches and at our PHS athletic field complex as it kept Mr. St Clair alive. The quick response by some of the bystanders in the crowd to start CPR and then the professionalism and calmness of the first responders made all the difference in ensuring the safety of Mr. St Clair.
“Plattsburgh City School District is truly grateful for the support and partnership that we have with the Fire Department, particularly for providing an EMT at all our varsity home football games. The value that the Fire Department brings to our community is immeasurable and is deeply appreciated.”
Several spectators at the game called 911 for help.
Six minutes after the first call, Plattsburgh Fire Department EMS Unit 286 with firefighter paramedic Belinda Fuster and firefighter EMT Luke Walker; and Engine 284 Lt. Craig King, firefighter paramedic Ryan Spauneville and firefighter EMT Adam Knef arrived to assist on site.
After the continued efforts of the bystanders and EMS responders, use of CPR, medications and four total shocks from the on site AED, there was a return of a faint pulse.
St. Clair was then transported to University of Vermont Healthcare Network CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh where he was treated by numerous healthcare workers, doctors and nurses in the Emergency Department.
“After you wake up, you come home, and then you hear all about these people helping me and saving my life, and how professional these guys, the women and men are. CPR is really important,” St. Clair said.
“CPR is what saved my life, and I wish more people would take the training to do CPR. It’s been around a long time, and it’s what saved my life.”
PROCLAMATION
City of Plattsburgh officials and Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) gathered in the Common Council chambers of Plattsburgh City Hall Friday to present and honor the bystanders, on-duty responders, as well as the dispatchers, with a proclamation.
“Their willingness to step forward and assist in this critical situation underscores the vital importance of community CPR training and public access to AEDs. Every effort, no matter how small, contributed to the successful outcome — a powerful testament to the value of preparedness and collective action,” a city statement said.
“The willingness of bystanders to jump in and help a total stranger shows how strong the North Country is,” Scott Lawliss, Fire Chief for the City of Plattsburgh Fire Department, said.
“No matter what role each rescuer played, it was key to all the right pieces coming together to save a life that night. This is a great story that outlines the importance of knowing CPR and having Public Access AED’s as these events can happen anywhere, at any time.”
Storm Treanor, of Clinton County Emergency Services, said recognizing the event, calling 911 and getting help on the way, starting CPR and having an AED available changes the outcome for multiple patients.
“This is what our goal is. This is what we all train for every day,” Treanor said.
“My plea to people is that if you don’t know CPR, or you don’t know how to start and you get caught in an emergency, you call 911, and the dispatchers will walk you through it. The next time you have to do it, hopefully you will have done a course.”
Treanor hosts monthly CPR classes on the second Saturday of the month (see box).
“CPR is a critical skill to have. Anybody can learn it, it’s not terribly difficult,” Eric Day, Clinton County Emergency Services Director, said.
“For Mr. St Clair, there probably wasn’t a better place to have the incident. There were several off-duty responders on the scene, in conjunction with the AED, it was a good team effort.”