Luis Chavez, a retired engineer and practicing musician, was preparing for his audition at Sundance Ski Resort in Utah. The 70-year-old Luis was moving equipment into the restaurant when his heart went into cardiac arrest, causing him to fall and strike his head. Fortunately for Luis, two cardiologists were eating at the restaurant that evening and immediately started CPR, but Luis did not respond.

Four minutes later, two of the resort's safety officers, Kenneth Johnson and Brian Martin, arrived with an automated external defibrillator (AED). After the pads were placed on Chavez, the AED detected a shockable rhythm and verbally instructed the responders to press the shock button. Three shocks were administered before Luis's heart returned to a normal rhythm. An ambulance arrived soon after.

The Sundance Ski Resort, a remote winter and summer resort in Provo Canyon, Utah, only recently had acquired the AED. Ralph Derico, Orem City Public Safety Officer, loaned the unit to the resort to help with medical emergencies since the resort is 20-30 minutes away from medical help. The resort's medical technicians were trained, and someone trained in AED use is on duty at all times.

Luis Chavez was the first person to be saved by the device. "It is very evident," says Corey Child, Public Safety Director for the resort, "that if the automatic defibrillator had not been in use, Mr. Chavez would not be here today."