Please excuse my inability to take good pictures of fireworks.
My pool is over a hundred years old, so it's very, very traditional and conservative. Every year for Independence Day, there is a catered lunch free for all members. Some go to eat on the water, some go to eat by the poolside, some, like me, go to eat at the lifeguard table with all of the teenagers, half of whom are working for the day. 4th of July is generally the busiest day of the year for the pool, and 5-6 guards are on schedule (we typically have 3 guards working at most).
It's a bittersweet occasion: I get to see more of my friends all at one time at the pool, but the pool is very crowded, and unfortunately this led to disaster. A bunch of dads decided to play basketball with kids half their ages, in 90 degree heat, the optimal time for heart attack, which happened. Halfway through a game, a dad collapsed, and his heart stopped. I was down at the clubhouse, a good 100 yards away, when I saw a bunch of the lifeguards that are on duty, running towards me in the clubhouse. I quickly got out of the way to let the guards grab the AED and some ice. The guards ran back up to the basketball court, where CPR had already begun. Luckily, there is 5 members at my pool, all present, that are doctors. If I wanted to have a heart attack anywhere any time of the year, it would be 4th of July at my pool.
9-1-1 was dialed, and a fire truck and two ambulance trucks arrived at the scene in no time. After a shock from the AED, the injured man started breathing again, and a heart beat could be felt. Minutes later, he was talking.
Moral of the story? Well there's two. Always, always, always have an AED in public places. In Maryland, it is not a requirement, but they prove to be very helpful essential, and I think that they should be required. Additionally, know your limits. And this applies beyond the physical world. Always know your limits, whether it's dealing with stress, exercising with others, or being an old fart.
