Trained to Act, Ready to Save: Honoring a Life-Saving Moment in Baton Rouge
Last week at the Louisiana State Capitol, we proudly recognized three extraordinary individuals whose quick thinking and courage saved a man’s life during a cardiac emergency at the Bocage Racquet Club in Baton Rouge.
In late May, Carolina Ross, a club member, witnessed a man collapse from sudden cardiac arrest. She immediately sought help and alerted two nearby lifeguards—Hayes Kirkpatrick, a rising sophomore at Catholic High School, and Layton Fontenot, an incoming freshman at LSU. Without hesitation, Hayes and Layton sprang into action—administering CPR and using an AED to stabilize the man before emergency responders arrived. Their calm, confident response was nothing short of heroic—especially considering it was Hayes’s very first day on the job.
What prepared them for such a critical moment? Early exposure to CPR and AED training in their high school health class. That foundational experience gave them the knowledge and confidence to act when it mattered most. Both later earned their Basic Life Support certification through an American Heart Association course as part of their lifeguard training.
Their story is a powerful reminder: CPR and AED education saves lives. And the timing couldn’t be more fitting—their heroic act came just ahead of CPR and AED Awareness Week (June 1-7), officially recognized by the Louisiana Legislature. It’s a timely call to action to ensure more students and citizens are equipped with these essential, life-saving skills.
Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals in the United States—and tragically, 90% are fatal. Immediate CPR and AED use can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. Yet, fewer than half of those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest receive help from a bystander.
A heartfelt thank you to Rep. Dixon Wallace McMakin for filing the resolution that honored Carolina, Hayes, and Layton, and for helping raise awareness of CPR and AED training across our state.
Written by Erica Williams, Louisiana Government Relations Director, and Julie Howell, Sr. Region Grassroots Lead.