Defibrillator Law Saves 24th Life

By Debra J. Groom
Staff writer

February 11, 2006 - Hans Smid, of LaFayette, last week visited the school where he collapsed and "died" Jan. 23.

He owes his life to the people at Heffernan Elementary School in Marcellus, who used an automated external defibrillator to bring him back to life.

But he also is thankful for a young man he never met. Louis J. Acompora, who died at 14 during a lacrosse game, is the namesake for Louis' Law, which mandates placing defibrillators in public schools.

Each of the three Marcellus school buildings has an AED and people on staff who know how to use it. The device at Heffernan was used to shock Smid when he collapsed in the principal's office during a meeting.

Smid, 39, the Heffernan psychologist, had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator installed under his collarbone. He spent a week recovering at Crouse Hospital. He plans to return to work Monday.

"Everyone gets so pumped up when we hear about these things," said John Acompora, Louis' father. "We said when we started this foundation that 'one save and this will all be worth it.' "

The foundation is the Louis Acompora Foundation, named for Acompora's son, a high school lacrosse goalie who died in March 2000 after being hit in the chest with a lacrosse ball.

John and Karen Acompora, who live in Northport, Long Island, created the foundation, which pushed having all public schools in New York be equipped with AEDs.

The law requiring the machines in schools was signed into law by Gov. George Pataki in May 2002.

"The law was passed in memory of my son," John Acompora said Friday. "We've been told 23 people have been saved since the law was passed."

Smid makes 24.

"I am so thankful to everybody," Smid said Friday. "I am so glad they had the training."

He also is thankful for Acompora and the work of the foundation. He plans to call Acompora to talk.

Smid has no memory of his collapse. He said he felt fine when he walked into Principal Gary Bissaillon's office for a meeting at 8:15 a.m. Jan. 23.

"From what they tell me, I just collapsed," he said. "They thought it was a seizure, but then I turned blue. They realized it was something worse."

The next thing he remembers, he was waking up in intensive care at Crouse Hospital.

He and his wife, Mary, have become believers in AEDs. "Right after this happened, our church purchased one," Smid said.

Marcellus Superintendent Timothy Barstow said Marcellus schools bought their devices with a grant obtained through state Sen. John DeFrancisco.

The Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation has developed an "AED in the School" kit, which details the steps necessary to implement a public defibrillation program. The package comprises a training manual, video and a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on a CD.

Staff writer Debra J. Groom can be reached at 470-2198 or by e-mail at dgroom@syracuse.com

© 2006 The Post-Standard. UStandard. Used with permission.