Kansas City Truck Driver Revived by Deputy Fire Chief

A suburban Kansas City, Mo., truck driver became the 50th person whose life was saved by a Defibtech ReviveR™ automatic electronic defibrillator (AED), according to a report by Cintas Corporation, which markets the ReviveR and provides AED training to customers.

Stephen Hanes was reunited with Sugar Creek (Mo.) Fire Department Acting Deputy Fire Chief Ben Shaumberg, who saved Hanes’ life after responding to a 911 call at his residence. The reunion took place at the Sugar Creek City Hall several weeks after the life save.

“I was just sitting there watching TV and my wife was walking [through the room], and that’s the last thing I remember,” Hanes said. “The next thing I remember I was in the ambulance, and they had told me that I had sudden cardiac death.”

Firefighter Schaumberg said the department purchased two Defibtech ReviveR AEDs from Cintas. "For our department, getting AEDs has been a huge step forward. Before, all we could do was take a pulse and start CPR,” Schaumberg said. “At least with this machine, it can tell us what's going on. It actually helps us think a little bit clearer because the AEDs remind us what to do."

Hanes is thankful for the quick response of the fire department and its use of the ReviveR. “Your (AED) is wonderful. The firefighters are just too good,” Hanes said.

Cintas has sold more than 20,000 AEDs since 2000 and has trained more than 86,000 people annually on how to administer an AED.