People magazine says that the Boy Scouts were flying home from an adventure camp when another passenger had a heart attack.
The trip from New Mexico to New York took four hours, and during that time, a flight attendant asked if there were any doctors on board. Three doctors and one nurse stepped up to help, which was great. They began CPR on the passenger. The plane could have made an emergency landing right away, but it wouldn’t be enough time.
Evan Gilder, the boys’ leader, realized how bad things were at this point.
Gilder told ABC News, “CPR is a hard thing to do.” It’s only possible for a short time before you get tired.
That’s when Gilder asked his scouts to help.
Eagle Scout Ariel Yaron, 16, said, “He’s like, ‘Boys, everyone who knows CPR training, go! Go! Go!'”
The plane was finally able to land after about 40 minutes of giving the man CPR on and off. The flight attendant tried to tell the boys to go back to their places.
When Gilder asked what happened, one of the doctors said in a very cool voice, “If we do that, this patient will die for sure.”
They kept doing CPR until the doctors could feel a pulse.
“They pick up a pulse as we’re getting close,” Gilder said.
“When you see someone you love or yourself go through this, all of a sudden your whole life is in the hands of two Boy Scouts,” Yaron said.
When Yaron thought about how he saved a life, he was filled with respect and humility.
He said, “To save a life is one of the most important and most important commandments in Judaism.” Being a good Jew, Boy Scout, and citizen means doing what you’re meant to do. “It’s an honor.”
