When Sandy Yaegle went into unexplained cardiac arrest at the Kinzua Heritage Festival on Sunday, Aug. 25, three nurses in attendance saved her life by providing CPR until she was transported by helicopter.

Renee Haight, Bobbie Stanton, and Stephanie Ferrie quickly jumped into action and continued cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Yaegle until she could be transported via helicopter. Yaegle is now making a full recovery after receiving treatment through a defibrillator.

Yaegle’s daughter, Heather Stanton-Fuller, is a nurse who credits the fast and selfless actions of those who knew and performed CPR. “Thanks to their quick response, she has not suffered any permanent brain damage, and her recovery has been quick,” Stanton-Fuller said.

According to the Red Cross, about half a million people each year have cardiac arrests. CPR increases the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest, making it essential to know CPR isn’t only for healthcare workers and emergency responders.

“You never know when you might need to utilize CPR and first responder training; it can save lives,” Ferrie said.