Homer DeLattre, Joe Montrella, Rodney Chism, and Adam Walstrom never thought they would face a life-or-death emergency during a routine practice on September 18, 2024. With decades of combined coaching experience, they had reviewed emergency protocols and practiced drills countless times. But none of that could prepare them for the moment 16-year-old Spencer Davis collapsed on the field during a drill at football practice in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Spencer, a promising sophomore athlete, suffered from Commotio Cordis—a rare but often fatal cardiac arrest triggered by a blow to the chest. As the seconds ticked by, the four coaches quickly recognized the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, they sprang into action. CPR was their immediate response, but as they began chest compressions, their training and instincts guided them to retrieve the school’s ZOLL AED.
Even though you train and hear about cardiac arrest, you never think it’ll happen to your player. When it did, we had to act fast, and the AED kept us focused and on task.
Joe Montrella,
SCA rescuer
“As a coach, you know it’s your responsibility to act when a player goes down,” said Coach Montrella. “Even though you train and hear about cardiac arrest, you never think it’ll happen to your player. When it did, we had to act fast, and the AED kept us focused and on task.”
For 13 intense minutes, the coaches were joined by the athletic trainer and a police officer who all worked together seamlessly. The AED’s clear, step-by-step instructions and feedback guided their every move. Commands like “Push to Match the Tone,” “Push Harder,” and “Shock Advised” gave them the confidence to continue CPR, relieve each other as necessary, and deliver two lifesaving shocks, all while staying calm under immense pressure.
“In that moment, the AED was like having another coach on the field,” said Coach Chism. “It took the guesswork out of what we were doing and gave us the assurance that we were doing it right.”
The AED’s post-rescue report later confirmed their efforts were flawless: high-quality CPR and accurate shock delivery, not only restarted Spencer’s heart but kept oxygen-rich blood flowing to Spencer’s brain and heart, preventing brain damage and dramatically improving his chances of recovery. Without the ZOLL AED’s real-time feedback and Spencer’s coaches’ quick thinking, the outcome could have been tragically different.
“I don’t know if we could’ve done everything perfectly without the AED,” added Coach Walstrom. “It removed the guesswork and ensured we were giving Spencer exactly what he needed to survive.”
Today, Spencer is thriving and in the midst of forming his own foundation to advocate for AED access and education.
A Coach’s Call to Action
“Looking back, it’s hard to imagine what would’ve happened if we didn’t have an emergency response plan and fast access to the AED,” said Coach DeLattre. “Every school, every team, every public space needs one. And people need to know how to use it.”
Currently, only 20 states mandate AEDs in schools, and 54% of Americans lack confidence in using them, despite their user-friendly design and clear audio and visual prompts. Spencer’s story underscores the urgent need for greater public awareness and education.
Spread the Word: Anything Can Happen. Anyone Can Help.
Spencer and his coaches hope their AED-assisted rescue story inspires others to prepare their communities with greater education and access.
At ZOLL, we stand by the mantra “Anything Can Happen. Anyone Can Help.” We look forward to supporting the future advocacy efforts of Spencer Davis and our other advocacy groups aimed at increasing AED access and education, ensuring that no one hesitates in an emergency and that every school, sports field, and public space is ready to turn bystanders into heroes.
To see a video about these remarkable rescuers and more from Spencer visit here.
Download ZOLL’s Community Activation Kit here and visit The Spencer Davis Foundation here.
