Wedding guest uses heart device to save life

The life of a man having a heart attack at a wedding party was saved Saturday night when another guest, a nurse, used an Automated External Defibrillator on the 59-year-old man.

The event took place at Vintage House, one of several locations provided with an AED device by the city of Sonoma. City Manager Linda Kelly said this is the first time one of the units has been used in an emergency situation.

The nurse applied CPR and used the device to deliver the appropriate treatment until the Fire/EMS units arrived on the scene. Division Chief Bob Norco said the chain of treatment was successful. The victim is recovering at Sutter Hospital. 
The AED unit was installed at Vintage House and other strategic locations last fall. At the time, Executive Director Cynthia Scarborough said, “we have collectively improved the likelihood of a positive outcome in the event someone needs such intervention while awaiting the arrival of paramedics.”