When My Heart Stopped, Confidence Started
In 2020, I collapsed during a run from sudden cardiac arrest.
There were no warning signs. No diagnosed heart condition. No reason to believe my heart would suddenly stop.
But it did.
And in those first terrifying seconds, my husband Andy didn’t hesitate.
He didn’t stop to question whether he was performing CPR perfectly.
He didn’t freeze.
He acted.
His hands became my heartbeat until paramedics arrived.
Because of bystander CPR, I am alive today.
And what I’ve learned since then is this: you don’t have to be perfect to save a life — you just have to act.
The Confidence Gap That Puts Lives at Risk
After my recovery, friends and family shared something that deeply unsettled me.
Many admitted they wouldn’t have known what to do.
Some had never taken CPR.
Others were afraid of doing it wrong.
Some worried they might panic and freeze.
And they’re not alone.
Only about half of adults say they feel confident performing CPR. But in sudden cardiac arrest, confidence can mean the difference between life and death.
When someone’s heart stops:
- Brain damage can begin within minutes.
- Every minute without CPR decreases survival by about 10%.
- Immediate bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates.
Doing something — even imperfectly — is always better than doing nothing.
You Cannot Make It Worse
This is one of the most important things I share when I speak in the community:
If someone is in sudden cardiac arrest, you cannot make the situation worse by trying CPR.
They are already clinically dead.
Your hands are the only thing keeping oxygen flowing until help arrives.
Andy had EMT training, yes. But what saved me wasn’t perfection — it was confidence.
Confidence built from knowing the basics.
Confidence built from prior training.
Confidence stronger than fear.
And that confidence is accessible to anyone.
Hands-Only CPR Is Simple — And It Saves Lives
You do not need medical experience.
You do not need to memorize complicated steps.
Hands-only CPR includes three actions:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest (100–120 compressions per minute).
- Keep going until help arrives.
No mouth-to-mouth required.
No special equipment needed.
Just your hands — and the courage to use them.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Can Happen to Anyone
I later learned I had an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
I was 30 years old. Active. Healthy. No warning signs.
Sudden cardiac arrest doesn’t only affect older adults. It can happen to:
- Runners
- Parents
- Students
- Athletes
- People who appear perfectly healthy
When it does, the first responder is often not a medical professional.
It’s someone nearby.
Confidence isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about believing that your actions matter.
Because they do.
Building CPR Confidence in Our Communities
At OHHF, we believe lifesaving skills should feel second nature.
Through the Sydney Saver Program, we are working to close the CPR confidence gap by:
- Bringing CPR training into schools
- Hosting community events like CPR at the Bar
- Partnering with workplaces and gyms
- Making training accessible, approachable, and empowering
Confidence grows with exposure.
Confidence grows with practice.
Confidence grows when we normalize learning these skills.
Our mission is simple: make CPR confidence the norm — not the exception.
Fear Is Normal. Action Is Powerful.
Andy later told me:
“I was scared, but I knew what to do. I just started compressions.”
You don’t have to feel fearless to be brave.
You don’t have to feel perfect to act.
You just have to start.
Take the First Step
If someone collapsed in front of you today, would you know what to do?
If the answer is “I’m not sure,” that’s okay.
But let’s change that.
👉 Sign up for a CPR training
📍 Host a Sydney Saver event in your community
❤️ Screen. Train. Save.
Because confidence saves lives.
And the next life saved could be someone you love.
About the Author
Sydney Philpott-Strieff is a sudden cardiac arrest survivor and advocate for CPR confidence and heart screening awareness. After collapsing at age 30 from an undiagnosed congenital heart condition, she made it her mission to ensure more communities are prepared to act. Through the Sydney Saver Program at OHHF, she helps expand access to CPR training and lifesaving education nationwide.
