In moments of crisis, having the right tools and the confidence to act can make the difference between life and death. This was the reality for Anthony Battaglia when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in a hotel parking lot. Fortunately, Damian Dollard, a Strategic Account Manager for ZOLL Medical, was in the right place at the right time—with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in his vehicle.
A Regular Morning Turns into a Life-Threatening Emergency
Anthony, a field manager for Benhar, had just wrapped up a trade show in Florida and was preparing for a day of meetings. After grabbing his usual coffee and croissant, he returned to his hotel parking lot to meet a colleague. As he opened his car to retrieve marketing materials, everything went blank—his heart had stopped.
Luckily, Damian had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air before his own client meeting. Noticing Anthony on the ground and his colleague attempting to assist, Damian immediately recognized the severity of the situation. His quick instincts took over as he rushed to get help, alerting hotel management to call 911.
Damian came back out to help. Upon reaching Anthony, Damian checked for a pulse—there wasn’t one. Fate had thankfully struck. Anthony collapsed right behind Damian’s vehicle—where an AED was stored thanks to Damian’s employment at ZOLL Medical.
The Power of an AED
In a matter of seconds, Damian opened his trunk and grabbed his ZOLL AED. Acting fast, he applied the AED’s electrodes and followed the device’s prompts. The AED quickly analyzed Anthony’s heart and delivered a life-saving shock. Damian followed that shock with CPR. Although Damian had trained extensively on AEDs, he had never used one in a real-life emergency.
The device guided him through each step, ensuring he performed effective compressions. The ZOLL AED 3 prompted Damian to perform deeper compressions by pushing harder. Once Damian achieved harder, faster compressions—about 100 to 120 compressions per minute1—the prompt informed him that he was giving good compressions.
Within a minute and 41 seconds of CPR, Anthony took his first breath again. It was a moment neither of them will ever forget.
The Importance of AED Accessibility
Anthony’s story underscores the critical need for AEDs in public spaces. “Every minute counts,” Damian emphasized. “For every minute that passes without defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by about 10%.” The probability of survival when administering high-quality CPR decreases only by about 4% per minute—much better odds.2
Damian continued, “AHA recommends being able to get to an AED in 90 seconds and getting back to the person within 90 seconds.” That’s a short window to assess the situation, react, and find the nearest AED—if one is even available.
Many buildings and businesses either lack easily accessible AEDs or don’t have clear signage indicating where to find them. It’s crucial to place AEDs in high-traffic areas like department stores, workplaces, and hotels. In multi-story buildings, having AEDs on multiple floors can make all the difference.
When it comes to saving lives, it’s always better to be overprepared than to realize—too late—that an AED wasn’t within reach.
A Bond Formed for Life
Since that fateful day, Anthony and Damian have developed an unbreakable bond. They check in with each other at least once a month and have even introduced their families. “He’s always going to be a part of my life,” Anthony shared. “Without Damian, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Damian, in turn, finds deep meaning in his role at ZOLL Medical. “Being able to help someone go home to their family—that’s what drives me every day.”
Raising Awareness for Heart Health
February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest. Anthony and Damian’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of preparedness. AEDs, paired with basic CPR knowledge, can empower anyone to save a life—even those with no medical training.
Anthony put it best: “People are afraid because they don’t know CPR. But the AED tells you exactly what to do. Anyone can use it, and that’s huge.”
Act Today
To increase survival rates, businesses, schools, and any place in between should prioritize placing AEDs in visible, easily accessible locations. Training employees and the public in CPR and AED usage can further ensure that more lives are saved.
Anthony’s survival is proof of the difference one person, one AED, and a few minutes of action can make. Let’s work together to create a world where more “Anthonys” get to go home to their families.
Now through March 31, 2025, is the time to purchase a ZOLL AED PLUS* or ZOLL AED 3**. Customer’s will get a free wall cabinet with their valid ZOLL AED purchase. Access our flyer and contact your local SPR representative to learn more.
*Ships in 6-10 business days
**Ships in 10-14 business days
