When a woman collapsed on an escalator at the Buffalo airport, Phil Clough didn’t hesitate. Along with another bystander, he laid her flat, checked her pulse and breathing, and began chest compressions when she stopped breathing. Others called 911 and retrieved an AED (automated external defibrillator). After receiving a shock, she regained consciousness before emergency responders arrived.
Clough, an engineer from Denver, had previously felt helpless during a similar incident and later trained as an emergency medical responder. His swift action helped save the woman’s life — a rare outcome in the U.S., where over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen each year. In 90% of these cases, victims don’t survive due to delayed help. Immediate CPR and AED use can double or triple survival odds, yet fewer than half receive that help in time.
AEDs are often available in public areas, but not always visible or used. Apps like PulsePoint are working to register AED locations and notify nearby CPR-trained volunteers during emergencies. Legal liability is rarely a concern, thanks to Good Samaritan laws in all 50 states, but lack of training and confidence remains a barrier.
Sada, the woman Clough saved, later became CPR-certified herself — a powerful reminder that basic lifesaving knowledge can have lasting impact.
