APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – What began as a routine classroom exercise at Fox Valley Technical College quickly turned into a real-life emergency when EMT students were forced to save the life of their own instructor.
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On March 25, 72-year-old Karl Arps was leading a training scenario, pretending to suffer from chest pain inside the program’s simulation ambulance.
“I said I’ll just make it up, I’ll just do chest pain, one of those is pretty easy,” Arps said.
But moments later, the situation took a sudden and serious turn. Students noticed a change while taking vitals inside the ambulance.
“All of a sudden, his face started getting darker, and you could just sort of tell, I think this is real. Like this is actually happening,” EMT student Logan Lehrer said.
Within seconds, the class realized Arps was no longer acting, he was in cardiac arrest. Students and instructors immediately sprang into action, pulling him from the ambulance and beginning lifesaving care.
“I was thinking, this is what needs to happen. So this is what I’m going to do,” said student Ben Marsh.
According to instructor Les James, the response was fast and precise.
“CPR was started within 40 seconds of recognition, the AED was retrieved and applied in 90 seconds and two shocks were delivered, and at 4:30 we had a pulse back, and he was talking to us,” James said.
Arps did not have a pulse for approximately 4:40, a critical window where survival often becomes unlikely.
Still, the outcome stunned experienced EMS instructors who, combined, have over 60 years worth of experience out in the field.
“We got him back from cardiac arrest to be able to talk to him and answer questions and knew his name and what year it was, and that doesn’t happen, so it’s amazing,” James said.
Arps, who has worked in EMS for 25 years and also serves part-time with Fremont Ambulance, says the experience is something he’ll never forget.
“What can I say to six students who saved my life? This is one thing I will never forget,” Arpssaid.
For him, it was also proof that the training works, even when students don’t realize they’re being tested.
“They are learning what we taught them. Unfortunately, these students had to put it to action many moons before they probably thought they would have to,” Arps said.
Arps was taken to the hospital, where he underwent open-heart surgery. He is now recovering at home and beginning cardiac rehabilitation.
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All students involved in the rescue were later recognized for their actions and awarded EMS “Thin White Line” challenge coins. This coin commemorates life-saving efforts.
The incident serves as a powerful reminder of how critical CPR training and quick access to an AED can be, and how preparation can make the difference between life and death.
