Gym Employees, Paramedic Who Saved Man's Life Honored In Warrenville

WARRENVILLE, IL — A paramedic and eight Lifetime Fitness staff members who saved the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest in early November were recently recognized by the Warrenville Fire Department.

According to fire officials, gym employee Andy Seitz had found the member unresponsive and called 911 before beginning to give CPR. Meanwhile, another employee prepared the gym's Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

Ryan Sulzen, an off-duty paramedic with the Addison fire department, witnessed the life-saving efforts and came to help, a news release said. Following two shocks from the AED, the gym member's pulse restarted.

He was taken to a nearby hospital and is still alive, per Warrenville fire officials.

Sulzen and Seitz were given Warrenville's Fire Chief’s Citizen Award, along with Lifetime Fitness employees Steve LaSalle, Colten Unzicker, Evan Mojica, Derek Kirchner, Nate LaCheta, Megan Lyons and Steve Spiegelman.

“I would like to remind our citizens of the importance of CPR training and the presence of AEDs in public spaces," Warrenville Fire Chief Andrew Dina said in a statement.

Dina added, "It is crucial for individuals to be prepared and equipped to respond to medical emergencies, as every second counts in such situations.