Leah Schmidt looks like the proverbial picture of health.  She is a cancer survivor who, in 2021 was training for Pelotonia-- the grassroots fundraiser to end cancer.

A few months after the ride, in November, Schmidt, who is an emergency department nurse, suffered a cardiac arrest.

"When I woke up in the hospital, the doctors who were taking care of me could not believe that someone who looked like me lying there in the bed had their heart stop on them," she said.

Schmidt's husband is also a nurse.  He recognized that his wife had the signs of a cardiac arrest and quickly began CPR while calling 911. Paramedics arrived quickly and delivered a shock with an AED.

Schmidt was diagnosed with "chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy."  Her cancer is in remission. She's maintaining her heart health with medication, lifestyle changes and urging all of us to learn CPR. 

What you know about performing CPR could make a difference in the life of someone experiencing cardiac arrest.  The month of June is a perfect time to pick up this potentially lifesaving skill. 

The American Heart Association, in collaboration with the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council, designated June 1-7 as "National CPR and AED Awareness Week ."

The focus is on how more lives can be saved if more people learn CPR and how to use an AED.

Statistics from the AHA show that "Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests" (OHCA) most often occur in homes/residences (73.4%), followed by public settings (16.3%), and nursing homes (10.3%).

Your local fire department and the American  Red Cross are two options for learning CPR and to use an AED.