News - Local - South County

Sunday, Jun. 29, 2008

Officers save life of Pismo cyclist after heart attack

Police who used an AED to revive the man will be honored Tuesday

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When police Officers Bill Garrett and Julie VanDusen found injured bicyclist David Bushey near an intersection in Pismo Beach on May 17, the two assumed he had been hit by a car.

The Pismo Beach man wasn’t breathing, his face was turning a deep shade of blue and he was bleeding from his head and mouth.

But with the help of bystanders, the police officers began performing CPR and then using an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to shock and resuscitate the man.

For eight minutes, Bushey would begin to breathe and then stop again before paramedics arrived and took over.

Bushey had suffered a heart attack while

on his bicycle at Pomeroy and Price streets, causing him to blackout and crash headfirst over his bike.

He credits the officers and the device for saving his life.

On Tuesday, he will thank the officers in person when they will be honored by the Pismo Beach City Council.

Bushey—who suffered no brain damage—has only spoken with VanDusen, when he called her from the hospital to thank her. Bushey could not be reached for comment.

She said he told her that he plans to become an advocate for the availability of AEDs, portable devices capable of delivering electric shocks to help restart a heart.

“It’s a pretty fun part of the job to help someone like that,” Garrett said.

Garrett and VanDusen said

they had never seen someone survive who they found in as bad a condition as Bushey was in.

The Pismo Beach Police Department put five AED devices in patrol cars late last year.

Garrett said he was fortunate to have one in his vehicle while he was patrolling downtown Pismo. The lightweight device and simple step-by-step instructions make them easy to use, he said.

The Arroyo Grande Police Department keeps two in its vehicles, and the sheriff’s department keeps most of its patrol cars stocked with AEDs.

But not all law enforcement agencies stock AED devices in their patrol cars.

However, the Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo police departments keep their AED devices in holding cells and offices but not in vehicles.

The machines range in price from $1,200 to $2,300.

Pismo Beach received its AEDs late last year through a partnership with local hospitals and Rabobank.

VanDusen and Garrett said that help from bystanders and the AED device were essential to Bushey’s survival.

“It saved his life without a doubt,” said VanDusen. “It’s an asset, and we’re fortunate to have them in our cars.”