Teen Saves Stepfather's Life with CPR Skills Learned in School

In a remarkable incident in Lancaster, New York, 10th grader Anthony Killinger utilized CPR skills he learned in school to save his stepfather, Mike Reese, from cardiac arrest. Less than a year after attending a CPR course, Killinger sprang into action when his mother alerted him that Reese appeared unresponsive. Upon finding Reese unconscious and making a snoring sound, Killinger called 911 and began performing CPR as instructed by the emergency operator. He continued the life-saving procedure for approximately eight minutes until Reese began to breathe again.

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Killinger's quick response was crucial, as cardiac arrest can lead to severe brain damage due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood. Medical professionals later informed Killinger that his actions significantly increased Reese's chances of survival. “The doctor said it’s like a 9% chance to just survive cardiac arrest,” Killinger recounted. Remarkably, Reese not only survived but also experienced no brain damage, a rare outcome in such situations. Following the incident, Reese was hospitalized for a week and received a defibrillator implant, having previously undergone open-heart surgery in 2018.

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The emotional reunion between Killinger and Reese in the hospital highlighted the bond between them. Killinger described their relationship, noting that his baseball coach is also his stepdad and best friend. Reese expressed gratitude for Killinger's timely intervention, stating he was coping with fatigue, a common after-effect of cardiac arrest, while feeling thankful for his stepson's actions.

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This incident underscores the importance of CPR training, which is often provided for free at schools, community events, and fire stations. The ability to perform CPR can be life-saving in emergencies, as demonstrated by Killinger's experience. Many organizations advocate for widespread CPR education, emphasizing that anyone can learn these skills to potentially save a life.

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Killinger's actions have been praised by both medical professionals and community members. The EMS team that arrived on the scene commended him for his quick thinking, which they noted was instrumental in saving Reese's life.

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• “I call 911 and the dude on the phone is telling me start doing CPR. I did it for like 8 minutes and then he started breathing again,” — Anthony Killinger, 10th Grader

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• “The doctor said it’s like a 9% chance to just survive cardiac arrest,” — Anthony Killinger

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This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that education and preparedness can have in emergency situations, potentially transforming lives through timely intervention.

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