It was a night like any other until it wasn’t. On October 18, 2023, Ryder Elkin’s world flipped upside down when his father, Matt, collapsed without warning in their family’s Palos Verdes home. In that moment, Ryder, a sophomore at Palos Verdes High School, transformed from an ordinary teenager into a lifesaver.
“I heard this strange gurgling sound, and at first, we thought he was just snoring,” recalled Heather Elkin, Ryder’s mother. “But when I shook him and he didn’t respond, I knew something was terribly wrong.”
Panic threatened to take over, but instinct prevailed. Heather dialed 911, while Ryder, relying on skills he had learned years earlier in Junior Lifeguards, jumped into action. When his mother grew exhausted performing chest compressions, Ryder took over without hesitation. He counted steadily, ensuring compressions were deep and rhythmic. “I kept thinking, ‘I have to keep going, I can’t stop,’” Ryder said. “I remembered the beat of ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and just focused on that.”
Minutes stretched like hours as they worked tirelessly, their efforts fueled by sheer determination and love. Ryder’s sister, Sienna, ran to alert neighbors, one of whom helped move Matt to the floor for better compressions. Finally, after an agonizing 10-minute wait, paramedics arrived, using an AED to restore Matt’s heartbeat before rushing him to Torrance Memorial Medical Center. After an induced coma and emergency surgery, Matt made a full recovery.
The experience left an indelible mark on Ryder. Realizing how crucial CPR had been in saving his father’s life, he made it his mission to ensure others were just as prepared. “Most people don’t think they’ll ever need to use CPR,” Ryder said. “But the truth is, cardiac arrests happen at home all the time. You don’t want to be helpless when it’s someone you love.”
Determined to spread awareness, Ryder founded the PVHS Lifesavers Club, working alongside the American Heart Association to bring hands-only CPR training to his school. At their first event, over 100 students learned how to perform compressions, an achievement that filled Heather with pride. “Watching those kids practice, knowing my son is making a difference, it’s incredible,” she said.
California remains one of the ten states that do not require CPR training in schools, a fact that Ryder is determined to change. His goal is to ensure every student gains the confidence and knowledge to act in an emergency. Moving forward, he plans to set up mannequins on campus once a month so students can practice this lifesaving skill.
“It’s not about being a hero,” Ryder said. “It’s about making sure no one has to stand by helplessly while someone they love needs them.”
How to Perform Hands-Only CPR
If someone collapses suddenly, here’s what to do:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Check for responsiveness and breathing.
- Position yourself correctly: Kneel beside them and place the heel of one hand in the center of their chest. Stack your other hand on top, fingers interlocked.
- Start compressions: Push hard and fast, at least two inches deep, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute—matching the beat of “Stayin’ Alive.”
- Keep going until medical help arrives. Every second matters.
Ryder Elkin’s journey from a terrifying night to a community-driven mission is a testament to the power of preparation and determination. He isn’t just teaching CPR he’s inspiring a movement, ensuring that more people are ready to step up when it matters most.
