Lifeguards in the spotlight
Daniel Johnson
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 19, 2025
Sonoma Splash staff activated an AED and applied CPR after colleague experienced a cardiac emergency.
A team of Sonoma Splash lifeguards is being recognized for its valiant efforts in helping to sve the life of an adult colleague who experience a cardiac emergency while participating in a training at Sonoma Valley High School Aquatic Center last month.
Head lifeguard Rachel Fugitt-Schneider andher team – Victor Astua, Joel Avila Vega and Emily Shumaker as well as SVHS students Skyler Parker and Alegria Silvi – all quickly stepped in to help at around 5:20pm on Sunday, Jan. 12, when the stricken lifeguard collapsed on the bleachers.
They activated a nearby automated external defibrillator to revive him and then applied CPR. An emergency medical services team from the Sonoma Valley Fire Department arrived shortly afterward to take over from the lifeguards. The man was then taken to the local hospital and is now recovering at his home.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my fellow lifeguards who were training with me on the night of this event," said the man, who asked that his name not be used. "They were vigilant and ready to perform lifesaving measures at any moment. These co-workers are extremely kind, well-trained, motivated and take their lifesaving roles very seriously. I am so privileged to work with such an awesome group of lifeguards."
In addition to providing lifeguard services, Sonoma Splash offeres public access to the aquatic centerthrough memberships and day passes, and overseas community programs. Jane Hansen, aquatics director for Sonoma Splash, said she and other staff members are "extremely proud" of the actions taken by their lifeguard team. "They acted swiftly and competently, according to their trainig and were able to save a life," she said.
Fugitt-Schneider praised the efforts of her lifeguard team. "I am so proud of them," she said. "Our patient would not have had the same outcome if they were not there to assist and have the AED ready and 911 already called before we even started CPR."
A ceremony was help at the aquatic center on Monday, Feb. 10, to honor the lifeguards and the emergency medical services team that helped to save the man's life.
On the day of the incident, the man and other lifeguards who were training had just finished a warm-up swim and treading requirements.
“I exited the pool and walked over to the bleachers to leave my goggles and earplugs with my other belongings,” he said. “As I stood up after leaning over to store my equipment, I felt dizzy.” He checked his pulse and found that he did not have one. “I was going to call out or motion to our lifeguard instructor, but I lost consciousness,” he said. “This was my last memory until I woke up at the side of the pool, with first responders on my left and our lifeguard instructor on my right, reporting off to them.”
He said that he did not suffer a heart attack.
“The diagnosis is still unclear,” he said. “However, it was most likely syncope or sudden cardiac arrest due to an electrical conduction disturbance in my heart.”
Fugitt-Schneider said that when the incident occurred, the lifeguards were about to start practicing team CPR. “I did not expect to have a real patient that night,” she said. Shumaker initially called for her attention because the man was seizing on the bleachers. Fugitt-Schneider then shouted the man’s name and tapped his shoulder, but he didn’t respond, so Silvi called 911. Fugitt-Schneider and Shumaker moved the patient into a recovery position (on his side) to protect his airway and then placed him on his back to check for a pulse and to monitor breathing.
“The breathing switched to agonal gasps, and I couldn’t find a pulse anymore,” Fugitt-Schneider said. “Joel jumped right in to start the compressions. The AED was getting set up but the pack that contains the pads also contains the batteries, and the whole thing got pulled out.”
Her team indicated that the AED wasn’t turning on.
“I looked over and knew what was wrong,” Fugitt-Schneider said. I called for a switch and took the AED and set it
up by putting the pack back into the AED, drying off the patient’s chest, placing the pads, clearing the patient and pushing the shock button. She said that the AED saved the man’s life.
“The patient experienced a major cardiac event and I believe we had the AED on him within a minute after he collapsed, which is why he is alive today,” Fugitt-Schneider said. “More AEDs in more spaces will reduce response times and save more lives.”
The patient added, “The quick and appropriate application of this device during my event most likely saved my life. The immediate availability and proper use of AEDs have significantly increased the likelihood of survival after sudden cardiac arrest.”
After pushing the shock button on the AED, Fugitt-Schneider went back to managing the man’s airway, with Harrison’s help. She also noticed that spontaneous circulation had returned in his body and called for the compressions to stop.
“Our patient was very disoriented, did a large gasp for air and began to yell,” Fugitt- Schneider said. She stayed with the patient and worked to calm and reassure him until the EMS team arrived. Fugitt-Schneider, who has taught lifeguard and CPR classes for nearly 20 years, said that she previously taught all of the lifeguards who helped out on Jan. 12 while they were working toward their initial certification or recertification.
“I am so proud that they took the information and were able to put it into practice,” she said. “We need to keep doing the training and keep practicing — our success is proof that they are important.” She emphasized that it is important for the general public to also receive CPR and AED training.
“You really can be the person who saves someone’s life,” Fugitt- Schneider said. “If you have any doubts or think that you would forget what to do in an emergency, that’s your sign to go ahead and take a CPR/AED course.”
The day after the incident, the International Lifeguard Critical Response Alliance debriefed Sonoma Splash liefguards and other team members.
“Although the outcome was amazing, a lot of us were experiencing an acute trauma response, and it was so helpful to have resources provided to us,” Fugitt-Schneider said.
Contact Staff Writer Dan Johnson, at [email protected].
INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 19, 2025
Sonoma Splash staff activated an AED and applied CPR after colleague experienced a cardiac emergency.
A team of Sonoma Splash lifeguards is being recognized for its valiant efforts in helping to sve the life of an adult colleague who experience a cardiac emergency while participating in a training at Sonoma Valley High School Aquatic Center last month.
Head lifeguard Rachel Fugitt-Schneider andher team – Victor Astua, Joel Avila Vega and Emily Shumaker as well as SVHS students Skyler Parker and Alegria Silvi – all quickly stepped in to help at around 5:20pm on Sunday, Jan. 12, when the stricken lifeguard collapsed on the bleachers.
They activated a nearby automated external defibrillator to revive him and then applied CPR. An emergency medical services team from the Sonoma Valley Fire Department arrived shortly afterward to take over from the lifeguards. The man was then taken to the local hospital and is now recovering at his home.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my fellow lifeguards who were training with me on the night of this event," said the man, who asked that his name not be used. "They were vigilant and ready to perform lifesaving measures at any moment. These co-workers are extremely kind, well-trained, motivated and take their lifesaving roles very seriously. I am so privileged to work with such an awesome group of lifeguards."
In addition to providing lifeguard services, Sonoma Splash offeres public access to the aquatic centerthrough memberships and day passes, and overseas community programs. Jane Hansen, aquatics director for Sonoma Splash, said she and other staff members are "extremely proud" of the actions taken by their lifeguard team. "They acted swiftly and competently, according to their trainig and were able to save a life," she said.
Fugitt-Schneider praised the efforts of her lifeguard team. "I am so proud of them," she said. "Our patient would not have had the same outcome if they were not there to assist and have the AED ready and 911 already called before we even started CPR."
A ceremony was help at the aquatic center on Monday, Feb. 10, to honor the lifeguards and the emergency medical services team that helped to save the man's life.
On the day of the incident, the man and other lifeguards who were training had just finished a warm-up swim and treading requirements.
“I exited the pool and walked over to the bleachers to leave my goggles and earplugs with my other belongings,” he said. “As I stood up after leaning over to store my equipment, I felt dizzy.” He checked his pulse and found that he did not have one. “I was going to call out or motion to our lifeguard instructor, but I lost consciousness,” he said. “This was my last memory until I woke up at the side of the pool, with first responders on my left and our lifeguard instructor on my right, reporting off to them.”
He said that he did not suffer a heart attack.
“The diagnosis is still unclear,” he said. “However, it was most likely syncope or sudden cardiac arrest due to an electrical conduction disturbance in my heart.”
Fugitt-Schneider said that when the incident occurred, the lifeguards were about to start practicing team CPR. “I did not expect to have a real patient that night,” she said. Shumaker initially called for her attention because the man was seizing on the bleachers. Fugitt-Schneider then shouted the man’s name and tapped his shoulder, but he didn’t respond, so Silvi called 911. Fugitt-Schneider and Shumaker moved the patient into a recovery position (on his side) to protect his airway and then placed him on his back to check for a pulse and to monitor breathing.
“The breathing switched to agonal gasps, and I couldn’t find a pulse anymore,” Fugitt-Schneider said. “Joel jumped right in to start the compressions. The AED was getting set up but the pack that contains the pads also contains the batteries, and the whole thing got pulled out.”
Her team indicated that the AED wasn’t turning on.
“I looked over and knew what was wrong,” Fugitt-Schneider said. I called for a switch and took the AED and set it
up by putting the pack back into the AED, drying off the patient’s chest, placing the pads, clearing the patient and pushing the shock button. She said that the AED saved the man’s life.
“The patient experienced a major cardiac event and I believe we had the AED on him within a minute after he collapsed, which is why he is alive today,” Fugitt-Schneider said. “More AEDs in more spaces will reduce response times and save more lives.”
The patient added, “The quick and appropriate application of this device during my event most likely saved my life. The immediate availability and proper use of AEDs have significantly increased the likelihood of survival after sudden cardiac arrest.”
After pushing the shock button on the AED, Fugitt-Schneider went back to managing the man’s airway, with Harrison’s help. She also noticed that spontaneous circulation had returned in his body and called for the compressions to stop.
“Our patient was very disoriented, did a large gasp for air and began to yell,” Fugitt- Schneider said. She stayed with the patient and worked to calm and reassure him until the EMS team arrived. Fugitt-Schneider, who has taught lifeguard and CPR classes for nearly 20 years, said that she previously taught all of the lifeguards who helped out on Jan. 12 while they were working toward their initial certification or recertification.
“I am so proud that they took the information and were able to put it into practice,” she said. “We need to keep doing the training and keep practicing — our success is proof that they are important.” She emphasized that it is important for the general public to also receive CPR and AED training.
“You really can be the person who saves someone’s life,” Fugitt- Schneider said. “If you have any doubts or think that you would forget what to do in an emergency, that’s your sign to go ahead and take a CPR/AED course.”
The day after the incident, the International Lifeguard Critical Response Alliance debriefed Sonoma Splash liefguards and other team members.
“Although the outcome was amazing, a lot of us were experiencing an acute trauma response, and it was so helpful to have resources provided to us,” Fugitt-Schneider said.
Contact Staff Writer Dan Johnson, at [email protected].
The group that was instrumental in saving a man’s life at Sonoma Valley High School Aquatic Center on the Sonoma Valley High School included: center, lifeguard trainer Rachelle Fugitt; first row from left, lifeguards Emily Shumaker, Remy Harrison, Algeria Silvi and Isabella Alvarez; second row from left, lifeguards Victor Astua, Joel Avila Vega and Skyler Parker, and the EMS crew from the Sonoma Valley Fire District, from left, engineer Kris Kirkwood, Capt. Justin Semenero and firefighter Hunter van Emmerik.
Photo by ROBBI PENGELLY / THE SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE |
Kristy Brindley, president of the Just1Mike Foundation, which provided the public access defibrillators that are placed around the Sonoma Valley High School campus. The one that was strategically placed at the swimming pools was instrumental in saving a man’s life. Photo taken at the Aquatic Center on the Sonoma Valley High School campus on Feb. 10.
Photo by ROBBI PENGELLY THE SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE |
