Rapid Response Training LLC

07/07/2025

A little league umpire nearly lost his life to a heart attack during a baseball game, but a doctor sitting in the bleachers was able to come to his aid.

06/13/2025

AFib made it nearly impossible for firefighter Paul Dunwell to function, walk and work.

AFib, or atrial fibrillation, is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to more serious complications. Paul was experiencing AFib several times a day, often for more than an hour at a time. While some people can control AFib through medication and lifestyle changes, Paul would need a medical procedure called an ablation.

He was devastated to learn that AFib might also mean the end of his career. He was 51 at the time. "Firefighting was my life," he said. "I'd been doing it for 33 years and I couldn't just walk away from it."

Paul was determined to do whatever he could do to get well enough to keep working.

After his ablation, Paul’s doctors helped him wean off the medication and gave him guidelines for the lifestyle he'd need to maintain for good heart health. Most of them, he'd already been doing.

Several months after his procedure, Paul went to see his doctor to check in on his progress. He got on the treadmill for a cardiac stress test and started running. All he could think about was how good it felt to run and how he didn't want to stop.

Since stepping on that treadmill two years ago, Paul has run more than 4,000 miles. He averages a 5K a day. And in January, he conquered Walt Disney World's D***y Challenge, where he completed a 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon over the course of four days.

A big source of motivation for Paul is thinking about everything he's gone through and how he wants his life to be better on the other side of it – and how he wants to share his story to help others avoid their own heart challenges.

"When I'm running, I think a lot about how I'm here because of everyone in my life who took care of me," he said. "They never gave up on me. So, I can't give up on myself."

06/13/2025

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the No. 1 cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. Nearly 1 in 500 people have HCM, although a large percentage of those cases remain undiagnosed. Learn the signs and symptoms of HCM.

06/13/2025

Tyson was 43 when his heart stopped during a guys’ weekend at a remote cabin. One of the friends called 911, while Max, a volunteer firefighter and trained emergency medical responder, started CPR.

As Max pushed on Tyson’s chest, the images in his head were of his friend's wife and kids. When a team of volunteer first responders arrived after 20 minutes, they shocked Tyson with an automated external defibrillator, or AED, and finally restored a sustainable heartbeat. With the closest hospital an hour away by car, they called for an air ambulance.

Tyson had emergency surgery to place a pump in his heart to mechanically move blood through his body. He also received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD. No one knew why Tyson -- who lifted weights every morning and rode his exercise bike five days a week -- had a cardiac arrest. But if it happened again, the device would deliver a shock to restore a normal heart rhythm.

When Tyson went home a week later, he couldn't walk 10 feet or tie his shoes. He did cardiac rehabilitation for six weeks. Soon, he started riding his stationary bike, rowing and doing light weightlifting. He went back to work two weeks after leaving the hospital.

"The doctors call my recovery a miracle, and in many ways, it was," Tyson said. "But it was a miracle made possible by the quick action of Max, the skill and dedication of the first responders and medical staff, and the unwavering support of my friends and family. Without Max being there in my moment of greatest need, I simply wouldn't be here."

Tyson has become a strong advocate for CPR training. He worked with his company’s leaders to start CPR training and to get AEDs for all facilities. Almost all the men at the cabin that weekend have done CPR training now, too. Max bought his own AED

These days, Tyson feels less stressed, and he doesn't sweat the small things. "My experience wasn't just about cheating death," he said, "but about understanding the precious gift of life and the importance of faith, community and love."

You, too, can learn to save a life. Find a CPR training near you at http://spr.ly/61824ybQn.

05/20/2025

Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander adults who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital are less likely to get bystander CPR. If a teen or adult collapses, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

05/20/2025

You’ve worked hard, cared for others, and built a vibrant life. Now it’s time to protect what matters most! Join our free webinar on Tuesday to explore how thoughtful planning can secure your future and reflect your values. Register today: http://spr.ly/6182Nqjwn

05/20/2025

Stroke survivors: You don’t have to face recovery alone. Tracking health and wellness data reveals trends you and your doctor can use to improve recovery and prevent another stroke. Get the Heart & Stroke Helper wherever you download apps.

The HCA Healthcare Foundation is a national sponsor of Together to End Stroke(R).

05/20/2025

Break out the sweatbands and neon spandex! If your workout is getting a little stale, try these fun throwbacks to liven things up.

05/02/2025

Acting F.A.S.T. may save a life. When you spot one of these stroke warning signs, call 911 right away.

The HCA Healthcare Foundation is a national sponsor of Together to End Stroke(R)

05/02/2025

05/02/2025

What triggers your AFib? Knowing what causes it to flare up can help you avoid an episode of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that increases stroke risk.

HCA Healthcare Foundation is the national sponsor of Getting to the Heart of Stroke™.