How to save a life - at the park district

Carpentersville resident Tom Malinger had walked about three-quarters of a mile on the elliptical machine on the morning of Feb. 21 at the Dundee Township Park District's recreation center. He started to feel dizzy, so he stopped. In a split second, Malinger's heart stopped. He collapsed, hitting his head on the gym floor.

That's when four Good Samaritans took action that ultimately saved Malinger's life.

A flight attendant, recreation center employee, part-time firefighter and a fellow gym user rushed to Malinger's aid. Debra Zeigler, a flight attendant, used the Automated External Defibrillator, which got Malinger's heart going. Keri Fowler, who was working out near Malinger, rushed to dial 911. Others helped, too, including Craig Lauer, a part-time Carpentersville firefighter and Leslie Kowalski, a park district employee.

"Thank God for the people who were there to help that day who knew what they were doing," Malinger said. "I am very grateful for that."

When the ambulance arrived, the responding officers told Malinger's wife, Barb, that the AED had saved her husband's life. Without it, they told her, he would have died before the ambulance arrived.

The village of Carpentersville awarded the four heroes with Good Samaritan certificates during last week's board meeting.

"The response was so quick," Barb told Carpentersville trustees last week. "Without the AED he wouldn't be here today."

Malinger doesn't remember much about the day. He and his wife had eaten breakfast with a group of friends before hitting the gym. The Malingers had joined the park district recreation center about six months before, but had previously worked out at another location.

Those who witnessed his collapse said Malinger "keeled over" but was conscious and speaking before he blacked out. He regained consciousness momentarily in the ambulance on the way to Sherman Hospital in Elgin.

Doctors were confounded with why Malinger's heart stopped. They believe a blood clot had traveled to his heart. The defibrillator then jarred the clot out of his heart. It is now in his lungs.

Today, Malinger is homebound. He is hooked up to a heart monitor and defibrillator. He is also on blood thinners and is not allowed to drive.

"I get carted around whenever I can find someone to drive me," Malinger said.