Hudson, Ohio-- A single shock from an automatic external defibrillator may have saved the life of a 55-year-old volunteer firefighter Friday night.
But the fight for life continues for Robert Hutson, pastor of Western Reserve Christian Church in Hudson.
Today, Hutson will undergo coronary artery bypass surgery at Akron City Hospital, where he was in serious condition but resting comfortably Monday.
Hutson collapsed and went into full cardiac arrest after helping to put out a minor kitchen fire in the 700 block of Jamestown Court, Fire Chief Bob Carter said.
The fire department held a press conference Monday to identify Hutson and to promote the AED devices given to many Hudson law enforcement officials. Six were on hand at Friday's fire, Carter said.
Hutson had been a first responder, helping to advance the hose and investigate the second floor, Carter said.
"It wasn't a particularly hot or smokey fire, but it was a fire," Carter said. "Bob was beginning to break down the hose when he fell.... He had no symptoms."
The married father of two grown children also cut the bridge of his nose on his helmet when he fell about 7:15 p.m., Carter added.
On Sunday, Hutson was moved out of intensive care into cardiac care, where he sat up and got out of bed, Carter said.
"He sees some humor in it all. We had a couple laughs today," Carter said. "He looks about 100 percent better than he did yesterday, and about 10,000 percent better than he did lying in the yard.... He'll be able to show you his scar and staples, but he can't speak highly enough of the efforts of that night."
Previously a volunteer firefighter in Kentucky and Virginia, Hutson passed an agility test and physical exam when he joined the Hudson force in June 2003, Carter said. "I can tell you we'll be gearing up a program to require health exams every three years," he added. "This brings to light certain things we want to learn from going forward."
The American Heart Association has been supplying AEDs to Summit County law enforcement departments since 2003.
Sandra M. Klepach can be reached at 330-996-3746 or [email protected].
Republished with permission of The Akron Beacon Journal.
