A Second Chance at Life
Sudden cardiac arrest knows no bounds. It does not care about your age, fitness level, or occupation. It strikes without warning, anytime and anywhere. On a day that seemed like any other in Allen Park, Michigan, cardiac arrest struck a young high school student at track practice, leading to a terrifying and life-threatening event that could have ended in tragedy.
Kelly Dolan is the mother of Alyssa, who was the young high school student who suffered cardiac arrest that day. Kelly was with Alyssa’s younger brother running some errands before they were going to pick her up from practice, and that’s when she got a phone call that something had gone wrong.
“It’s a phone call no parent wants to receive,” said Kelly. “But I am so thankful for where she was and who she was with when it happened, because there were a lot of people who saved her life that day.”
Alyssa was at track practice and had just finished one of her sprints when she collapsed just off the track. Her teammates immediately alerted one of the coaches, who then ran over to assess the situation and began to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an automated external defibrillator (AED).
An AED is a portable electronic device that can analyze heart rhythms and deliver an electrical shock to help restore a normal heartbeat in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. In this instance, the AED detected an irregular heartbeat for Alyssa and administered a shock.
This was a situation that called for immediate action, and because the coaches were trained in CPR and an AED was onsite and nearby, those precious seconds of action made all the difference in helping keep her alive as they waited for the EMS to arrive.
“It means everything to me that the high school has its coaches and staff trained in CPR and AED use, and that they have multiple AEDs throughout the building,” said Kelly. “I strongly believe that the initial response to use CPR and have an AED administered saved her life.”
The AED used in this situation was supplied by the Cintas First Aid & Safety location in Romulus, Michigan. Cintas is the largest national provider of American Heart Association (AHA) CPR and AED training, helping provide lifesaving tools and skills to businesses all across the country.
Matt Sheridan, the General Manager of the First Aid & Safety location in Romulus, Michigan, whose location supplied the AED at Allen Park High School, says this situation in particular hit a little bit differently, but is a reminder of the importance of what they do.
“As someone who has kids, this specific incident hit a little bit differently,” said Matt. “Stories like this foster a sense of pride, knowing that what you do every day truly impacts lives and that what we do matters. I’m proud to be part of this, and I know our team and partners behind it are very proud as well.”
As this situation in Allen Park has proved, cardiac arrest can happen anywhere at any time, and it’s imperative that schools, businesses and others should be prepared for those instances.
“I couldn’t be a bigger proponent for CPR and AED training,” said Kelly. “We are extremely, extremely lucky it worked in our case, but I can’t stress this enough: immediate CPR and AED availability saves lives.”
Alyssa is on the road to recovery and continues to show strength and resilience each day. For Kelly, the experience has reshaped her understanding of preparedness and deepened her appreciation for the people and organizations that made survival possible.
“Alyssa is healing, but she is still thriving and continuing to bring joy into our lives every single day,” said Kelly. “Organizations like Cintas are not only providers of lifesaving tools, but they also give families like mine continued hope. We will never forget what was done for her and for us that day.”
Minutes, even seconds, count during situations like this one. Being trained in CPR and having an AED ready can make all the difference. For Kelly’s daughter, Alyssa, those seconds and preparedness helped provide another chance at life.
To view the full video about Alyssa's AED experience, click here.