Co-Workers Honored For Saving Creve Coeur Man's Life

The recognized four men who saved the life of a co-worker from Creve Coeur who went into cardiac arrest in January.

Garry Gannon, a technical mananger at MiTek Industries in St. Charles, collapsed while at work on his 57th birthday, Jan. 16, 2012. His co-workers, Levi Sorril, John Galinski, Greg Pritchet, and Dennis Schieffer, heard him collapse, initiated CPR, called 911 and met the paramedics.

The city paramedics started fluids, administered cardiac drugs and shocked his heart twice. Gannon, 57, regained a pulse before he arrived at the Emergency Department. He was cooled to lower his metabolic rate and underwent cardiac catheterization procedure. A week later, he walked out of the hospital. 

Gannon thanked everyone who helped him. 

"Jan. 16, 2012 started out as my birthday, it almost was my last day," he said. "I don't know if it was my best day or my first day again."

Today, Gannon says he "feels great."

Medical Officer David Lewis said one sudden cardiac arrest happens every 81 seconds. He said each minute care is delayed survival rates decrease by 10 percent.

Lewis said Gannon's coworkers were important links in the Chain of Survival.

The links in the chain are:

1. Emergency Call
2. Early CPR
3. Early Defibrilation
4. Early Advanced Care

Learn more about the Chain of Survival here.