My Dad Is Superman: Why CPR Training Matters
Updated October 2026 with current CPR and trauma-response guidance.
Some emergencies happen so quickly that nobody has time to prepare.
That was the idea behind this older In-Pulse CPR story about a father named Joe Fernando, his daughter Emily, and a sudden emergency at an amusement park.
The original article described Joe as a librarian and trained First Aid volunteer who was spending a Saturday with his daughter when a man fell from a ride and became unresponsive.
The story has been on the In-Pulse CPR website for many years, but I could not find independent reporting that confirms the people or incident. Because of that, it is best presented today as an illustrative CPR scenario rather than as a documented rescue. In-Pulse CPR
A Fun Day Suddenly Became an Emergency
Joe and his daughter Emily had a tradition.
On the third Saturday of each month, they would spend the day together, often visiting a park, zoo, or another local attraction.
On this particular Saturday, they chose a newly opened amusement park.
Emily was enjoying the rides and excitement when she suddenly screamed.
A man had fallen from a ride and landed hard on the ground.
He was not moving.
Joe immediately went to help.
The Man Was Unresponsive
In the original story, the injured man was identified as Remo Smith, approximately 40 years old.
He had suffered an obvious fall and was unconscious.
This is where modern First Aid guidance becomes especially important.
A serious fall can cause injuries to the head, neck, spine, chest, or internal organs. A rescuer should avoid unnecessary movement unless the person must be moved for immediate safety or to provide lifesaving care.
But if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally or is only gasping, cardiac arrest must be treated immediately.
Current American Heart Association guidance emphasizes rapid recognition, calling 911, beginning CPR, and getting an AED as soon as possible. (cpr.heart.org)
CPR After a Serious Fall
The original version had Joe checking for a pulse and deciding that trauma had caused cardiac arrest.
For a lay rescuer today, that is more complicated than necessary.
If an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally, the priorities are:
- Call 911
- Start CPR
- Send someone for an AED
- Use the AED as soon as it arrives
- Continue CPR until EMS takes over or the person shows signs of life
Lay rescuers generally are not expected to spend time trying to determine the exact medical reason the person collapsed.
The cause might be trauma, a heart rhythm problem, severe bleeding, or another emergency.
The immediate response remains the same when cardiac arrest is suspected.
Joe Began CPR
In the original story, Joe asked someone nearby to call 911 and then began CPR.
He performed chest compressions and rescue breaths while waiting for emergency help.
For a trained rescuer, conventional CPR with 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths remains appropriate for adult cardiac arrest.
An untrained bystander may instead provide Hands-Only CPR for a suddenly collapsed adult by calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest.
The important thing is to act.
What About the Injuries From the Fall?
A major fall creates a difficult situation because both cardiac arrest and trauma may be present.
Normally, rescuers should avoid moving someone with a possible spinal injury unnecessarily.
But if the person needs CPR, lifesaving treatment takes priority.
Current AHA guidance generally recommends performing CPR where the person is found when it can be done safely and effectively. (cpr.heart.org)
The 911 dispatcher can also provide instructions until EMS arrives.
CPR Does Not Usually “Restart” the Heart by Itself
One part of the original story also deserves clarification.
It described Joe performing a few more compressions and then the man’s heart beginning to beat again.
That can happen, but CPR’s main job is not usually to restart the heart.
Chest compressions help maintain blood flow to the brain and other organs.
An AED or advanced medical treatment is often needed to correct certain dangerous heart rhythms.
That is why modern CPR training emphasizes:
Call 911. Start CPR. Get an AED.
Why CPR Training Matters
Whether this exact amusement-park story happened as originally written or was created to illustrate a CPR emergency, the lesson remains useful.
Emergencies do not schedule appointments.
They happen at:
- Amusement parks
- Workplaces
- Schools
- Churches
- Sporting events
- Shopping centers
- Homes
The person standing nearby may be the only one available to help during the first few minutes.
CPR training gives ordinary people a simple framework for responding instead of freezing.
What Emily Saw That Day
The original story ended with Emily looking at her father very differently.
To her, Joe was no longer just Dad.
He was the person who stepped forward when someone needed help.
Her final line gave the article its title:
“I knew my dad was Superman.”
That may be a dramatic way to put it.
But to a child watching a parent stop and help during an emergency, it probably feels exactly right.
Learn CPR Before Someone Needs It
In-Pulse CPR provides hands-on American Heart Association CPR, BLS, AED, and First Aid training.
👉View Upcoming CPR Classes
Businesses and organizations can also schedule private on-site CPR and First Aid training.
👉Learn About On-Site CPR Training
You do not need a cape.
You just need to know what to do.
Updated October 2026: This article has been substantially revised to reflect current CPR, AED, and trauma-response guidance. The original Joe Fernando and Remo Smith story could not be independently verified and is presented as an illustrative CPR scenario rather than a documented rescue.
******
