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BP man thanks those who saved his life after cardiac arrest

By Cara Host For The Almanac Writer@thealmanac.Net 2 min read
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A trip to the store almost turned deadly for James Barozzini.

The Bethel Park man suffered cardiac arrest in the parking lot of Giant Eagle Market District Aug. 27, but fortunately, several people, including three employees of the store, worked to save him. Barozzini was able to thank them in person at the Bethel Park Council meeting Oct. 9.

“Police, medics and firefighters, we’re a team. But sometimes, we can’t do it alone,” Bethel Park police Chief Tim O’Connor said.

He credited the three Giant Eagle employees, Christopher Adams, Patty Oravetz and Josh Czemerda, with saving Barozzini’s life. They rushed to give aid to the stricken man by performing CPR and administering two shocks with a defibrillator before police and paramedics arrived.

O’Connor recognized the store employees along with the responding police officer and medics from Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Services. He said their teamwork helped ensure a much happier ending to a situation that initially seemed quite dire.

“They were not bystanders,” Cheryl Rickens of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation said of the store employees. “They were responders.”

She gave lifesaver pins to those who helped and a survivor pin to Barozzini.

“I’d like to thank everyone for all they did for me,” Barozzini said.

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