Utica resident earns recognition for lifesaving CPR

UTICA — A Utica resident was recently recognized with a certificate from the American Heart Association for performing lifesaving CPR on a bicyclist back in March.

The bicyclist had suffered cardiac arrest while riding his bike down the street March 7.

Utica resident Sean Justman, who is a Warren firefighter and medic, jumped into action and aided the bicyclist for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest save.

In addition to the American Heart Association, SaveMiHeart — an organization that works to improve cardiac arrest survival in Michigan through survivor advocacy, education and research — plans to honor Justman with a SaveMiHeart coin. The organization at press time was trying to set up a meeting for Justman and the survivor, whom the organization also plans to give a certificate and coin.

Theresa Shields, SaveMiHeart executive director, said Justman and his wife had recently arrived home with their infant son when the bicyclist went into cardiac arrest.

“As they (had) begun to settle in, Sean was holding their son when he noticed a resident had collapsed near their home. Sean gave the baby to his wife and proceeded to this person’s aid. After his quick assessment, he began CPR. His actions saved this person’s life, as he sees him from time to time riding his bike in the neighborhood,” Shields said in an email interview.

Justman said that he and his wife had brought their newborn son home from the hospital on March 5.

“We were taking shifts staying awake with the baby. During the afternoon of March 7, it was my wife’s turn to get some rest. She recently went for her nap when my neighbor called and asked if I knew first aid because someone was laying in the street next to a bicycle, not responding,” Justman said via email. 

He said his wife recalls the situation as feeling like a dream because she was so deep in sleep and he was waking her up to tell her to take the baby because someone was down on the ground outside.  

“She was so confused, but I was finally able to hand her our son and went outside where neighbors Haley and Ray Grobbel and (the) Utica Police Department were on scene assessing the situation. The 50-year-old patient was not responding. I checked and he did not have a pulse. At this point, CPR was started. The first Utica Fire Department unit arrived on scene, and the paramedic began his treatments while I continued CPR until the ambulance arrived,” he said.

The man was placed on a Lucas device to take over compressions and regained a pulse at the scene before being transported to the hospital.  

“I would also like to add that the Utica Police and Fire Department did a great job,” Justman said.