‘Every second counts’: Sarasota County Walmart employees save life after customer suffers cardiac arrest

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Walmart employees at a North Port store saved a customer’s life after they went into cardiac arrest earlier this month.

On the evening of April 10, North Port Fire Rescue responded to a Walmart located at 17000 Tamiami Trail regarding a reported cardiac arrest.

Before crews arrived, three employees — Suzan Martucci, Tanya Frener and Amy Bredfeldt — stepped in to perform life-saving measures on the patient, Mary Ann Disanzo. When medical personnel arrived at the store, they were able to regain a pulse in under a minute.

“If not for the quick thinking of the Walmart employees, this outcome could have been very different,” EMS Division Chief Brian Gorski said. “Their response, partnered with the exceptional care provided by our Station 82 C-Shift crew, put this patient in excellent hands.”

Officials said if the employees had not stepped in, Disanzo would not have survived.

“Every second counts in an emergency, and their actions undoubtedly made a crucial difference,” North Port Fire Rescue said.

Fire rescue highlighted the importance of CPR and having AEDs readily available.

To sign up for hands-on CPR training, residents can call North Port Fire Rescue at 941-240-8150.

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