The Chain of Survival Saves a Life in Canisteo

On June 23rd Lee Montgomery experienced a sudden cardiac arrest on his front steps. 13 year old Laura Simon was walking by and saw that something wasn’t right. She called out to a neighbor Mike Bixby who ran over and started CPR.  Laura then called 911. Deputy Donald Lewis heard the call and responded with his AED and defibrillated Mr. Montgomery. The Hornell Fire Department Advanced Life Support arrived and continued care to the hospital.

On July 31st these local heroes were recognized in a ceremony at the Canisteo American Legion.  Both Laura and Mike had taken the “hands only” CPR class offered through Rural Health Community Systems “10,000 Links in the Chain of Survival.”  They recognized the emergency and took decisive action to respond. Mike Bixby stated “I remembered the training; I didn’t have to count but just keep pushing hard and fast in the center of his chest.” The actions of these local heroes, the links in the “Chain of Survival”, saved Lee Montgomery’s life.

Featured in the Above Picture - From left: Canisteo Fire Chief Mike Wilson, HFD Frank Brzozowski, HFD Pete Huffsmith, HFD Josh Prouty, Investigator Don Lewis, Lee Montgomery (victim), Laura Simons, Mike Bixby, Art Jones (Rural Health Community Systems) and Sheriff Joel Ordway