BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Timothy Carroll was only 22 when he died of sudden cardiac arrest.

The 1996 Hopkinton High School graduate was alone on Dec. 13, 2000, when he ran up two flights of stairs, then suddenly collapsed and died. His girlfriend found him four hours later, but it was too late.

Carroll led a healthy lifestyle, and along with pursing a career in film making, he played basketball, baseball and golf – staying in shape with athletics.

Carroll’s parents, Khristin and John, made a commitment to save as many lives as possible from that moment on.

“Most people don’t think sudden cardiac arrest can affect their children when, in fact, it affects thousands each year. And not just high school or college-age students, even young children as well,” said Khristen Carroll. “Our mission is to educate people and let them know it does happen and how to be prepared if it does.”

It should come as no surprise, then, that the Carrolls recently donated two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Hopkinton High School.

“Having an AED around means all the difference in the world,” said Carroll.

“Lives. It means lives,” said Hopkinton Middle/High School Principal Steve Chamberlin, who held a ceremony at the school on May 29 to accept the gift, which he said sports teams carry during both home and away games.

“All the coaches and I, we feel better having one travel with our teams,” Chamberlin continued. “We all hope we never use them, but if we do we’ll be ready. What a wonderful gift to receive from the Carrolls.”
Nate Mosseau, a senior lacrosse player at Hopkinton High School, was one of two student/athletes to accept a defibrillator on behalf of the school.

“Obviously, it’s great. I think we’ve been lucky that nothing like that has happened here, but it’s great that we’ve taken the steps necessary to prevent a future tragedy.”

The Carrolls challenged the Hopkinton School District to make all its facilities heart safe, and officials accepted.

Now the district has at least one AED at each of its schools, has many CPR and AED certified staff and faculty members and is promoting constant awareness among its students.

Hopkinton Fire Chief Rick Schaefer has also accepted the mission to have and maintain an AED at all Hopkinton schools.

But one doesn’t need to be AED certified to work one, said Khristin Carroll.

In fact, the Good Samaritan law allows anyone to do anything in their means to save a life, she said, adding that AEDs are easy to use and provide the operator with simple, concise instruction that allows it to be used at a moment’s notice.

The Carrolls have also been major proponents of House Bill 911, which was sponsored by state Rep. Christine Hamm, and passed in the Senate on May 11.

“This bill represents to me how something good can come from a tragedy,” said Hamm.

The bill established an AED Advisory Commission and  “encourages all schools to obtain and maintain automated external defibrillators at appropriate school locations for the safety and protection of students and others participating in or attending school athletic and related activities.”

The message is getting across.

The 2007 senior class at Hopkinton High School just donated another AED to the school.

For more information on Carroll, others like him, how you can help or for more information on SCA, visit www.parentheartwatch.org.