IN Peters Township April/May 2017 | Page 44

INPERSON n Oct. 15, 2016, a mere second changed the lives of two Peters Township High School friends. Fifteen-year-old sophomores Walter Virany and Parker Lewis were enjoying their day at South Park’s Skate Park when, suddenly, Lewis turned to Virany and said, “My heart stopped.” Immediately, Lewis dropped his phone and fell over as he went into cardiac arrest. “I yelled for help and called 911,” says Virany. “Parker had no pulse and was not breathing. The 911 operator told me he needed CPR.” Thankfully, being required to take CPR training and certification as part of his 9th grade Personal Wellness class at PTHS, Virany was able to step up and help his friend. He performed CPR for 12 minutes, until the ambulance showed up and medical personnel were able to NICOLE TAFE take