Red Cross Volunteer Saved by CPR and Use of AED; Encourages Others to Get Trained

February is National Heart Month and is a perfect time to learn how to perform CPR and use an AED in order to save lives. In an emergency, every second counts. This past December during the Nashville Christmas Parade, trained bystanders rushed to the aid of Wade Payne, a freelance photographer and Red Cross volunteer, as he experienced a heart attack.

Get to know Wade and his rescuers a bit better, and hear it from him!

How did you come to get involved with the Red Cross?
“A friend talked with me about it, who also does photography. I came to a meeting, liked everyone and they were nice!’

Which areas do you help in with the Red Cross?
“I was looking for a way to give back with the blessings I received. It was just a natural progression. I learned there is so much to do with the Red Cross.” Wade does photography for the Red Cross. It’s his main interest and feels he can help most when using the ability God gave him. Which Wade said is to “help promote through the visual aspect in showing what the Red Cross does. Many don’t know about things like Sound the Alarm and just how much they help people in disasters. If I can help save a life, then I’ll tell my story. It’s not about me. It’s about helping others.”

You have an incredible story of complete strangers saving your life! Can we hear it?
“When at a Christmas parade I went down, and a lady rushed in to help. She was about to go in the house, but for some reason decided to stay a bit longer. Then, an off-duty firefighter saw and took over for the woman to call 9-1-1. A minister quickly retrieved an AED and administered it.” As if that is not crazy enough with three complete strangers jumping in without hesitation, a doctor stepped right in and worked on him in the ambulance!

What advice or recommendation(s) would you give to a new volunteer?
“There are so many facets. There are things you can do beyond what you may go there for in the first place. It’s a real eye-opener. Definitely get trained in CPR. You may be the catalyst for getting people involved in an emergency situation.”

After all this, Wade believes there is a reason he is here and feels very blessed!

He said: “It’s moving to know that there’s good people who care about you and is praying for you, who don’t even know you.”

Wade was very grateful to meet the lady who took the first action, and broke what the Red Cross calls barriers to action. He is looking forward to soon meeting the off-duty firefighter too and hopes to meet his other heroes.

It is difficult to tell when one might use life-saving skills, but they sure come in handy. Sometimes being the first one to take action in an emergency can be scary, but being trained helps to alleviate some of that tension. If you would like to take life-saving classes such as CPR or AED, call your 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcross.org.

By Kelsie Angeletti, Red Cross volunteer