By: Angie Springs, American Red Cross

On August 3, 2022, 17-year-old Davis Dwight was at hitting lessons at Mac N Seitz Baseball Club, working with coach Nic Crouch, when he collapsed and went into sudden cardiac arrest. Crouch yelled for someone to call 911, and his instinct to start CPR kicked in. Mike Macfarlane, retired Kansas City Royals catcher, jumped right in to help, working as a team to administer CPR while waiting for first responders to arrive.

Up until that point, Dwight was a healthy teen boy at the top of his game in baseball. This all could have changed in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, due to the quick action of Crouch and Macfarlane, Davis has absolutely NO brain damage and he is doing fabulous. He looks, feels and acts like nothing happened. He is still undergoing tests as doctors can't find what caused his heart to stop. The whole time Davis was in the ICU and then the cardiac floor of the hospital, doctors and nurses said over and over that the only reason Davis was still alive was because of Crouch and Macfarlane.

For their heroic and lifesaving actions, Nik Crouch and Mike Macfarlane received the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action in a ceremony held at Mac N Seitz on April 20.

“The Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action is given to individuals, like Mr. Crouch and Mr. Macfarlane, who step up in an emergency situation and help save or sustain a life,” said JoAnn Woody, executive director of the Greater Kansas City and Northwest Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross. “These individuals exemplify the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies and are to be commended for their willingness to help others in distress.”

When asked what advice they would share, Macfarlane said “Put your phones down and act. Don’t tape, film it, post it — do something. Act.”

Crouch added, “Get certified. Take a CPR Class.”

With a half-million cardiac arrests each year, cardiopulmonary resuscitation — popularly known as CPR — can help save a life if a person's breathing or heart stops. It's not just for healthcare workers and emergency responders. In fact, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival when bystanders take action.

The American Red Cross helps train you safely, effectively and confidently so that you're prepared for the minutes that matter the most. For more information on CPR and first aid and to register for a class, visit www.redcross.org