A Stranger Things scene featuring CPR inspired a 12-year-old kid from Florida to save his behavioral therapist's life. He applied the same techniques he saw in the show and was able to successfully save a life!
Stranger Things, widely known for its fictional scenes and storyline, recently had a major positive impact in real life. According to USA Today, a young Florida native, Austen Macmillan, saw his behavioral therapist, Jason Piquette, unexpectedly drowning at his family swimming pool when he performed CPR and resuscitated him successfully.
The two were hanging out at the Macmillan family pool and wanted to see who could hold their breath underwater the longest. Five minutes into the challenge, Piquette's body started floating motionless in the pool, and when Austen checked the timer, he knew something was wrong. So, he pulled Piquette away from the pool’s deep end and started calling for help, but no one answered. Seeing no other solution, Austen knew it was up to him to save his behavioral therapist's life, so he started administering CPR.
When his father arrived home a few moments later, he rushed to the boy’s help and immediately called 911. Piquette was admitted into intensive care overnight and was released the next day after a “miraculous” recovery. He later said, "I think I passed out in about 30 seconds and I don't know why…I’m just so amazed at how strong he was and how wise he was in that moment. And I always want him to know that he is a hero."
The boy's mother, Christina Mcmillan, was busy shopping on Labor Day when her husband informed her of the incident. Shocked at her son's efforts, she asked him where he had learned to do CPR, to which Austen replied that he had learned it from watching the show Stranger Things. The scene he is referring to takes place in the show’s Season 1, Episode 8, "Chapter Eight: The Upside Down". In this episode, Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour) try to revive Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) using chest compressions.
This incident shows that movies and TV shows can be a good source of learning for kids, and Austen’s mother also wants other parents to learn from this near-death experience. This isn’t the first time a TV show has had a positive effect in real life, and we hope this isn’t the last, either. To encourage more positive learning, parents should monitor their child’s activity and make sure they are consuming the right content.
The first four seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream on Netflix. Season 5 doesn't have an official release date yet.
