Teen saves dad with CPR he learned at school
Joanna Frketich
Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton Spectator Photo: Shane Tabone hugs dad Tim who he saved with CPR he learned at school. Shane’s sister, Tiffany, left, and mother, Sherry MacKinnon, behind, look on happily.
Paying attention in gym class saved the life of a Hamilton high school student’s dad.
Grade12 student Shane Tabone did CPR he learned at Sherwood Secondary School on his father after the 50-year-old collapsed in their Mountain home.
“He said, ‘I’m so glad I paid attention that day,” said his mom, Sherry MacKinnon. “So are we.”
The 17-year-old football player took the double-credit fitness program last year because he likes to work out. Tabone never thought he’d use the CPR training.
“My message to other students is pay attention and don’t skip any of those classes,” he said. “You never know, you could save a life.”
No one was more surprised than Tabone himself when he calmly took control after his dad suffered a heart attack Sept. 19.
“I thought I would collapse,” he said. Instead, “I stepped up to the plate and used it.”
“I was so level-headed. I knew what to do. It just came to me.”
Tabone was recognized by his school Friday with a Lifesaving Award specifically created for him.
“They surprised me,” he said. “I never thought I’d get an award. That was one of my main goals in high school, to get an award.”
Tabone’s father, who is recovering at home, was on hand to watch a member of the Hamilton Paramedic Service honour his son.
“He basically saved my life,” said Tim Tabone, who has two sons and a daughter between the ages of 15 and 22.
“He totally amazed me,” said MacKinnon. “He was so composed and so focused on doing what he needed to do to make sure his dad was OK. It blew my mind.”
Tabone’s dad, who installs heating and air conditioning for a living, had never had any major health problems before he woke up at 4 a.m. feeling nauseous. Luckily, his younger brother, Jordan, realized something was very wrong and got their mom up.
“His colour was terrible,” said MacKinnon. “I put my hands on his face and he was clammy and sweaty. I said to him, ‘I’m calling an ambulance.'”
He collapsed before she could make the call.
“I was hitting his face saying, ‘Tim, Tim, Tim,'” said MacKinnon. “All of a sudden, I could tell he wasn’t breathing. I screamed for Jordan to call 911. I did mouth to mouth and then screamed for Shane. Shane came out cool and calm and started doing CPR.”
Jordan went and got neighbours who have medical training to help.
“When they were doing CPR, Tim started to make this horrible, horrible sound and I thought. ‘Oh my God, we’re losing him,” said MacKinnon. “Jordan and I went outside and we were holding hands on our knees praying.”
Tabone let the neighbours take over CPR and went to meet emergency responders.
“‘Boys, my dad is dying, hurry up please,'” he said to them when they arrived.
Defibrillation was used twice by paramedics and once in the emergency department at Juravinski Hospital. His dad was taken to Hamilton General Hospital where an emergency procedure opened up a blocked blood vessel.
Tabone is now considering a career as a paramedic or a police officer.
“I think every high school student should learn this,” he said about CPR. “It should be mandatory.”
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905-526-3349 | @Jfrketich
Updated on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.