Eric Schmetterling and Police Officer Gerald Cares.
was carrying an AED (automated
external defibrillator). “After seven
minutes of performing CPR, Officer
Gerald Gares quickly approached
the scene and took over. The AED
was placed on Eric’s chest and a
shock was given that jumpstarted
his heart back into rhythm,” said
Annemarie. Afterward, Eric was
unaware of the severity of the
situation.
“I was unresponsive for about
seven minutes and remember
nothing about being unconscious,”
he recalls. “It was as if I was
watching a movie and pressed
the pause button and then the
play button. After regaining
consciousness, I was a little out of it.
When the paramedics arrived, I felt
good enough to get on the stretcher,
but they wouldn’t let me get up on
my own. I didn’t remember the
event and I guess I was in denial.”
One year and three months prior
to this cardiac event, Eric, who is
a practicing chiropractor, had a
heart attack followed by successful
quadruple bypass surgery.
This time, Eric underwent a
surgical procedure to implant a
pacemaker and defibrillator, as
doctors determined that it was
an electrical event that caused his
blackout.
It took a while for Eric to recover,
but as someone with no other
immediate risk factors, he was given
the green light to pursue his passions. Aside from pickleball, those include
skiing, which he plans to do soon in British Columbia and Utah. “My doctor’s
recommendations were to go to cardiac rehabilitation, walk and exercise,” he
says. “And to eat better, including more fiber, less salt and less fat.”
As is often the case, one of the more positive results from Eric’s episode was
established by the USAPA’s District Ambassador in South New Jersey, Denise
Donald. She has developed a program whereby individuals and pickleball
players are taught how to perform CPR on patients in need. “Jefferson
Hospital has a Friends and Family program that teaches how to perform CPR
and use an AED, free of charge, and they will conduct as many classes as we
need,” says Denise.
She was also looking for a way for players to have emergency contact cards
that they could attach to their player bags, containing valuable and personal
health information. “One of our pickleball players is a cardiologist and he was
able to get his hospital to donate 500 bag tags. I can’t require every player to
have one on their bag, but we did hand them out and most players now use
them. They can display important information to responders, like whom to
contact in an emergency. Other fields are optional, conditions like diabetes
or medication like blood thinners, and can be most helpful. Pickleball is a lot
of fun, but safety is most important.”
Eric complains of a little stiffness these days after playing pickleball, which
he does two to three times a week. But overall, with weekly trips to cardiac
rehab, lifting some weights at the gym, and the unbridled love of family and
friends, Eric is a welcome and friendly sight on the Cherry Hill pickleball
courts.
“Saving Eric’s life was the best win that I have ever had,” says Annemarie.
“Eric’s call the next night to thank me was the greatest phone call to receive.
We as a team felt great about saving his life; it was a scary situation that ended
with the best results possible. When a person goes into respiratory arrest
outside of a hospital there is a slim chance that they live. If they do live, there
is a 70% percent chance of cognitive issues. Thank God Eric suffered neither.”
For the individuals who played a pivotal role in saving Eric’s life, all were
issued a Proclamation in their honor and recognized by Cherry Hill’s mayor,
Chuck Cahn. To hear Eric tell his story and see the Proclamation ceremony,
visit https://youtu.be/qfFvo0w5G00.
“Everyone should know how to do CPR,” adds Denise. “This could happen
to anyone, anytime, anywhere on any court and you can’t count on someone
else to know what to do. Be a hero. Learn CPR.” •
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 |
MAGAZINE
51