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Off-duty firefighter saves woman’s life in Virginia Beach

Posted at 10:29 AM, Apr 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-20 19:53:02-04

Virginia Beach, Va. - Off-duty Virginia Beach Firefighter Michael Smith helped save a woman’s life a few days ago at Inlet Fitness.

“I heard them screaming for a doctor," Smith said. "Came downstairs – the lady, unfortunately, passed out. They said they thought she had a seizure."

Smith was working out at the fitness center when a 40-year-old woman went into cardiac arrest.

Realizing she didn't have a pulse, he sprung into action performing CPR on her.

“The AED came, I put the pads on her – set shock device. So we gave her one shot and within about 30 seconds, she was breathing again," Smith explained.

Fire officials say the woman was revived and began regaining consciousness by the time on-duty firefighters arrived.

Smith says had he not performed CPR she may have died.

“Ladder 1 was extremely fast but no matter how quick they are - the heart is dying. You’re not breathing. Nobody can stay alive without that," Smith explained.

Smith says CPR is something everyone should know.

He also says all businesses should have AED's on hand.

“It’s a very simple skill you can learn in a half a day. You need to do the CPR to keep her heart pumping blood but the AED changed her heart back into a rhythm we live in every day.”

Smith says the woman is doing better.

He says if you'd like to take a CPR training course, you can find many throughout Virginia Beach.