Defibrillate Manatee Foundation's Ernie Withers Saves Life through Quick Action and CPR Training
Yesterday afternoon, Ernie Withers, founder of the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation and a sudden cardiac arrest survivor, sprang into action to save a life while driving home on State Road 70 in Bradenton after attending his grandson’s baseball game.
While traveling eastbound, Withers observed a vehicle exiting the McDonald’s restaurant. The car, driven by an unresponsive female, moved slowly across both the westbound and eastbound lanes before coming to a stop in the culvert on the eastbound side. Recognizing the emergency situation, Withers immediately pulled over and rushed to assist the driver.
Upon reaching the vehicle, Withers discovered the driver was unresponsive and had no pulse. Without hesitation, he removed her seatbelt and pulled her from the car to the ground, where he began performing CPR. After approximately 4-5 minutes of diligent effort, the driver began to breathe again just as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrived on the scene.
Reflecting on the incident, Withers remarked, “When I was given a second chance at life after suffering my sudden cardiac arrest at the Pittsburgh Pirates training facility, I wanted to learn how to do CPR along with my wife and help teach other people how to perform CPR and use an AED. I never thought that after becoming a CPR instructor, I would be in a position to possibly save another person's life.”
The Defibrillate Manatee Foundation, established by Withers, has made a significant impact in the community, donating over 225 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to nonprofit organizations. In a continued effort to promote lifesaving skills, the foundation is hosting a free CPR/AED training event this Saturday at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus. The event is open to the public and will run from 10 AM to 3 PM. Participants will learn essential skills that could help them respond effectively in emergencies.
For more information about the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation and the CPR/AED training event, please visit http://defibmanatee.org.
