Vince Gargaro's heart stopped on Bainbridge Road during North Ridgeville's Corn Festival on Aug. 7, and three strangers who had never met before that night worked together to bring him back before paramedics could reach him. Chris Weissling, Mike Holtzman and Benjamin Clarkson were honored Monday for their roles in saving his life, receiving the city's Citizens Life Saving Award during a North Ridgeville City Council meeting.
According to chroniclet.com, Weissling, Holtzman and Clarkson received awards for saving the life of Gargaro, who collapsed on Bainbridge Road at the festival. As reported by Cleveland.com, Gargaro suffered a medical emergency that stopped his heart, and the three men had not met each other before that evening.
Weissling, a graduate of paramedic school and the Tri-C Fire Academy who was volunteering with the Corn Festival committee that night, responded to a radio call requesting CPR, per Cleveland.com's account. He applied AED pads and administered a shock while Holtzman, an off-duty Eastwood firefighter, continued chest compressions after relieving another bystander who had been performing CPR. Holtzman kept up CPR while the AED was used, the outlet reported.
A Race to Find the AED
Clarkson searched for an automated external defibrillator and retrieved one from the Safetyville cabin, then returned it to those providing care, according to the same account. Gargaro's pulse was restored before North Ridgeville Fire Department paramedics, who were stationed at the Corn Festival, arrived and assumed his care.
The ceremony took place during the Citizens Life Saving Award presentation at Monday's council meeting, chroniclet.com reported. Fire Chief John Reese, Weissling, Holtzman, Gargaro and Clarkson attended, along with Mayor Kevin Corcoran and Tri-C Fire Training Academy commander Patrick Finneran.
Officials Praise Strangers Who Stepped In
Fire Chief John Reese said these strangers came together to help save a man's life, per Cleveland.com's report. Mayor Corcoran and Reese recognized Holtzman, Weissling and Clarkson at the meeting, where Holtzman received the Fire Academy Excellence in Service Award and Weissling received the Fire Academy Distinguished Service Award, according to the outlet's account.
Gargaro attended the council meeting and thanked Holtzman, Weissling and Clarkson in person, the report noted. City officials said immediate bystander action can provide critical care before professional first responders arrive, and the outlet framed the men's response as demonstrating the importance of learning CPR and knowing how to use an AED.
