A routine bus ride from Washington, D.C. to New York City turned into a life-or-death emergency — and Christina Buckley didn’t hesitate.
Christina, 30, who lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, and works in HR for a medical company, was enroute to catch a flight to Antigua to visit family. But the journey took an unexpected turn when a fellow passenger began experiencing multiple seizures and eventually went into cardiac arrest.
Christina, who had some nursing school experience and had recently refreshed her CPR skills at the 2023 Greater Washington Region Heart Walk, sprang into action. “I did know the proper protocol, but it had been a while,” she said. “I was glad I had practiced hands-only CPR at the Walk.”
She rushed to the passenger’s side, turned her onto her side to prevent tongue biting, and called 911. Moments later, the woman lost consciousness. Guided by the 911 operator, Christina began chest compressions. “I was just following her directions,” Christina recalled. “Then I saw the woman begin to take breaths.”
Thanks to Christina’s quick thinking and calm under pressure, the passenger — who had a one-year-old child with her — regained consciousness before emergency responders arrived. Christina stayed to comfort the child, even changing her diaper. “The one-year-old had no idea what was happening with her mother,” she said. “I wanted to comfort them as much as possible.”
Christina’s story is a powerful reminder of how vital CPR training can be. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals each year in the U.S. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. Yet only about 40% of those who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests receive the help they need in time.
Remarkably, Christina’s brother, Bryan O. Buckley — a Board Member of the AHA — had a similar experience. In 2021, while biking on the Three Notch Trail in Maryland, Bryan witnessed a man collapse. Drawing on CPR skills he learned as a teenage lifeguard, Bryan instructed his friend to call 911 and began chest compressions. “It was 20 minutes until the ambulance came,” he said. “That was the longest 20 minutes of my life.” His actions helped save the man’s life.
Both Christina and Bryan’s stories highlight the life-saving power of bystander CPR — and the importance of being prepared.
“I never would have thought that just over a year after the Heart Walk, I’d be doing CPR on a real person,” Christina said. “By learning CPR, we can all be ready to save lives when it matters most.”