St. Pete teen helps save dad from heart attack after learning symptoms on field trip

A teen helped save his dad from a heart attack after a field trip to a local hospital showed him symptoms to look out for.

Rene Chirinos and his 17-year-old son, David, reunited with the team that helped save his life at HCA Florida Northside Hospital on Monday.

Rene was playing soccer in St. Petersburg with his two sons, David and Elias, when he felt overheated and short of breath, HCA Florida Northside Hospital said.

Rene tried cooling off in his car, but symptoms kept getting worse.

David had attended a school field trip at HCA Florida Northside Hospital a few weeks earlier, where he learned CPR and heart attack symptom education from the American Heart Association.

Since learning the symptoms, David dialed 911.

“Hospital colleagues, along with EMS and fire rescue crews, received the custom Northside Hospital challenge coin. Rene’s sons were also awarded a challenge coin for their bravery and quick thinking,” HCA Florida Northside Hospital said.

HCA Florida Northside Hospital said you should seek emergency care for chest pain if something doesn’t feel right. Do not wait, call 911 or seek medical care right away if the pain is prolonged, severe, or if you experience any of the following symptoms.

• Confusion or disorientation
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, especially after inactivity
• Excessive sweating or ashen skin color
• Nausea or dizziness
• Pain or discomfort spreading to the jaw, left arm, back, or shoulders
• Sudden pressure, squeezing, tightness, or crushing under the breastbone
• Very low blood pressure or heart rate
• Rapid heartbeat or breathing

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and Sunstar paramedic crews responded to the call and rushed Rene to the emergency room, where lifesaving measures were performed.

Northside Hospital receives more heart attack patients than any other hospital ER in Pinellas County, the hospital said.