In the quiet woods near Damascus, Alabama, a typical August day took a drastic turn for Devin Collins, an electric utility worker.

Devin and his crew were setting a pole in line when one of the power lines unexpectedly fell on the vehicle, resulting in a sudden and life-threatening accident. To make matters worse, the event occurred in a remote area surrounded by trees and far from immediate professional medical help.

Without an AED being on our truck that day, Devin would not be here. It saved his life.

— Ben Crane, SCA rescuer

Activating Rescue Mode

Fortunately, Devin wasn’t alone. Co-workers John Paul and Ben Crane, well-versed in their work and trained for this scenario, quickly shifted from colleagues to first responders. They swiftly registered the severity of the situation and understood that the electric shock had caused Devin to experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Although it would take a while for paramedics to arrive, they were fortunate to have access to a ZOLL^® automated external defibrillator (AED), which they had learned how to use in their required CPR/first aid training.

“[Ben] and I immediately went into rescue mode, remembering all the training we received from our co-op,” John Paul recalled of those critical moments.

My advice for any company is to make sure they have AEDs available at all times for their employees…

— Ben Crane, SCA rescuer

Lifesaving help deep in the Alabama woods

John and Ben worked together to attach the ZOLL AED to Devin, call for emergency assistance, and immediately started performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Devin, guided by the device’s real-time prompts. After shock delivery, the pair continued administering CPR until paramedics arrived.

Thanks to their quick response, cooperation, and first aid training – and most importantly, access to the AED – Devin was shaken but back on his feet by the time paramedics arrived.

This story highlights the importance of first aid training and quick access to AEDs in the event of an emergency, especially in remote locations where a typical day can take a sudden turn.

“My advice for any company is to make sure they have AEDs available at all times for their employees,” Ben says. “Without an AED being on our truck that day, Devin would not be here. It saved his life.”