06/05/2026
It's the final weekday of National CPR & AED Awareness Week. Today we presenting a Case Study of a local Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest in which bystander CPR & AED use resulted in a life being saved!
CPR & AED Save a Life at Elder’s Ace Hardware
How Six Employees Took Action — and Why It Matters
The Situation
At Elder’s Ace Hardware in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, what began as a normal workday quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency.
An employee, Chris Wells, suddenly suffered a cardiac event while on the job.
In cases of sudden cardiac arrest, every second matters. Without immediate intervention, survival chances drop rapidly.
What happened next made all the difference.
The Response
Before emergency responders arrived, six employees stepped in without hesitation.
• Sam Henson
• Joel Edmondson
• Doug LaRusso
• Caitlyn Cavanaugh
• Anna Lindsey
• Taylor Black
They immediately:
• Called for help
• Began CPR
• Retrieved and used an AED
These actions were taken in the most critical window—those first few minutes where survival is determined.
The Outcome
Because of their quick thinking and willingness to act:
Chris survived.
He was later able to return to his coworkers and personally thank the individuals who helped save his life.
Why This Matters
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere—at work, at home, or in public.
What this event demonstrates is simple but powerful:
The people already on scene are often the ones who determine whether someone lives or dies.
CPR and AED use before emergency responders arrive can dramatically increase survival rates.
The Role of Training
Situations like this don’t just happen by chance.
They happen when people:
• Recognize an emergency
• Feel confident to act
• Know how to use CPR and an AED
That confidence comes from training and preparation.
Community Recognition
Code One Safety hosted a Community Lifesaving Recognition Ceremony at Elder’s Ace Hardware to honor these six individuals.
Each was presented with a Lifesaving Recognition Award for their actions.
The event also served as a reminder to the community:
Anyone can be a lifesaver.
What Businesses Can Learn
This incident highlights critical takeaways for every workplace:
• Cardiac emergencies can happen anywhere
• Immediate response is essential
• CPR and AED training saves lives
• Prepared employees make the difference
Be Prepared to Save a Life
At Code One Safety, our mission is simple:
To ensure more people are ready to act when it matters most.
Whether you’re a business, organization, or individual, CPR and AED training can mean the difference between life and death.
Get Trained
If your workplace is not currently trained in CPR and AED use, now is the time.
👉 Contact Code One Safety to schedule training for your team.
Because when the moment comes—
You are the help until help arrives.
