Alberto Salazar knocked my socks off
What an amazing guy. You saw the story (runs Thursday at 5pm), heard his words, and hopefully like me came away with a better appreciation for not sweatin' the small stuff.
Of all the things going for him, we heard from the TVFR guys about the 'chain of survival'. Basically, if you had to have a heart attack-- Alberto says his couldn't have been better planned short of having it right in the hospital.
His runners, including Galen Rupp and Josh Rohatinsky who were there today, understandably freaked out but also managed to keep their wits *immediately* splitting up to find help and call 911. Bystanders who knew CPR got to work (do you know CPR?? more on that in a minute) and the TVFR paramedics-- well, they would NOT quit working on him. Oh yeah, did we mention the awesome Providence St. Vincent cardiologist who inserted a stent into Alberto's heart through his groin?
I mean, it's amazing. And since you aren't likely a paramedic, or a cardiologist-- what role can you play in this "chain of survival" should you ever witness something like this??
CPR.
Here are two places you can learn more:
http://www.tvfr.com/CS/AED/index.html
AND, if you don't live out there: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3011764
Alrighty-- it's 3pm and I still need to write a version of this story for the web, which even though it's really late I don't mind because I want as many people to see this as possible. Alberto told me he hoped his story would help even one person. My goal is to help make that happen.
