Meet Chris Bird
"The day of my SCA was on Sept 6th, 2012 at the age of 37. Just a few weeks earlier I was deployed with my military unit at a disclosed location in southwest Asia. On one of my days off my buddy wanted to jog around the track that we had and I decided to run with him. We ran about a mile just because it was SO hot roughly around 110° at the time. No such event happened and I felt fine other than sweaty and hot!
Back to the day of my event, I remember that morning I packed my kids lunches and dropped them off at daycare. As we were walking in the daycare center I dropped my daughter’s lunch and her drink exploded and got juice all over her lunch. So I went back home and got her a new drink and cleaned up the rest of the mess in her lunch box.
I then called into the military base where I worked and told them that I would be a little late due to the accident with the lunch. They said “no problem, take your time and be safe.”
Once I got to work I was telling one of my coworkers what happened and he laughed and said “don’t worry about it the your rest day will be better.” (Little did anyone know.)
I was later informed by my boss that I was due to complete my annual physical fitness test in a few short hours from now.
So I changed my clothes and signed in at the Orderly Room to be on military orders for the day. It’s an Active duty military requirement so that’s what was always done.
I then walked down to the testing area to sign in and to start the PT testing. It consist of push-ups, sit ups, BMI measurement and last but not least the mile and a half run. I completed everything on the test and then we walked up to the track to complete the run. I finished the run in a little of 11 minutes and I was told to walk my cool off lap and that’s when my SCA event happened! I was told a fell face first onto the track and was out, and my skin was grey in color.
Luckily our protocol was to have an AED on site. They ran over to me and hooked up the AED to me and it shocked my heart back into rhythm. I few other people took turns giving me CPR until the EMT’s took over and rushed me downtown Pittsburgh to Allegheny General Hospital.
I was in intensive care and an induced coma until I slowly recovered. About a week and a half later I had an internal defibrillator installed.
Still to this day there was no know cause of my SCA and I also had genetic testing and it was all negative on the results.
Since then I retired from the military with 21 years of service in the Air Force. I’m truly blessed and very thankful for the AED and everyone that helped me out on the dreadful day. The power of prayers really helped me pull through and I’m loving life!
I’m so grateful that I’m here for my children and my wife and were expecting a little boy in April, 2019. "
Sincerely, Christopher R. Bird
Retired Air Force Master sergeant
Back to the day of my event, I remember that morning I packed my kids lunches and dropped them off at daycare. As we were walking in the daycare center I dropped my daughter’s lunch and her drink exploded and got juice all over her lunch. So I went back home and got her a new drink and cleaned up the rest of the mess in her lunch box.
I then called into the military base where I worked and told them that I would be a little late due to the accident with the lunch. They said “no problem, take your time and be safe.”
Once I got to work I was telling one of my coworkers what happened and he laughed and said “don’t worry about it the your rest day will be better.” (Little did anyone know.)
I was later informed by my boss that I was due to complete my annual physical fitness test in a few short hours from now.
So I changed my clothes and signed in at the Orderly Room to be on military orders for the day. It’s an Active duty military requirement so that’s what was always done.
I then walked down to the testing area to sign in and to start the PT testing. It consist of push-ups, sit ups, BMI measurement and last but not least the mile and a half run. I completed everything on the test and then we walked up to the track to complete the run. I finished the run in a little of 11 minutes and I was told to walk my cool off lap and that’s when my SCA event happened! I was told a fell face first onto the track and was out, and my skin was grey in color.
Luckily our protocol was to have an AED on site. They ran over to me and hooked up the AED to me and it shocked my heart back into rhythm. I few other people took turns giving me CPR until the EMT’s took over and rushed me downtown Pittsburgh to Allegheny General Hospital.
I was in intensive care and an induced coma until I slowly recovered. About a week and a half later I had an internal defibrillator installed.
Still to this day there was no know cause of my SCA and I also had genetic testing and it was all negative on the results.
Since then I retired from the military with 21 years of service in the Air Force. I’m truly blessed and very thankful for the AED and everyone that helped me out on the dreadful day. The power of prayers really helped me pull through and I’m loving life!
I’m so grateful that I’m here for my children and my wife and were expecting a little boy in April, 2019. "
Sincerely, Christopher R. Bird
Retired Air Force Master sergeant