Why should you have and AED Program when there is 911?

There is a very good chance emergency medical services (EMS) cannot respond fast enough to save someone in cardiac arrest, particularly in congested urban areas, high-rise buildings, in remote rural areas, or large facilities. In fact, the national average response time is 10-12 minutes, so even the best EMS responders could have difficulty arriving in time. Besides traffic, consider the time needed to make it through building security or in a crowded shopping mall with multiple escalators and all the way to a victim, for example.

Without early defibrillation, only 5 out of 100 SCA victims will survive. AEDs offer a practical way to save more lives because they are designed for use by nearly anyone. Widespread deployment of AEDs in public places gives SCA victims the best chance of survival.

Wisconsin

It was warm and sunny in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the small city known for its German heritage and bratwurst sausage. Fifty-one-year-old Jim Pausha decided it was time to mow his lawn. As Jim puts it, "After a while, I didn't feel good, so I decided to rest under a tree. That's the last thing I remember until I woke up at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee."

The part that Jim can't remember is the dramatic fight to save his life after sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) stopped his heart. A neighbor across the street noticed Jim lying on the grass and called Jim's son (who was in the house, unaware his father was unconscious right outside). Thankfully, Jim's son knew two key things that would save his father's life: call 9-1-1 immediately, and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Jim was lucky on another count. The Sheboygan Fire Department was only two or three blocks away from his home. Lieutenant Donald Reznichek remembers that afternoon. "We received the call of a man down in the front yard. It took us only about a minute to arrive, but there was already a crowd of concerned citizens around the patient. I saw someone performing CPR, and recognized him as a young man I knew from coaching wrestling years before. Although he knew what to do, and was doing a good job oxygenating the blood, he looked at me...and I could see the terror and fear in his eyes."

Fire Equipment Operator Mike Groh remembers Jim Pausha. "He had turned blue, and was not breathing. It's my job to set up the defibrillator, and place the pads on the patient's chest. All I can say is, I'm glad we had the machinery to help. With only traditional CPR, Mr. Pausha would have been past the critical six- or seven-minute window by the time the ambulance arrived."

Lt. Reznichek and his team had to deliver only one lifesaving shock with the defibrillator, and Jim gained his second lease on life that day. He spent the next five days at St. Luke's Hospital, where he was treated and released. "Those kinds of calls you don't forget," said Lt. Reznichek. "It's really...emotional." Jim is back at his job as a lift truck operator, plays golf occasionally, and still mows his own lawn.

Airport

Trained airport officials saved a man who suffered from sudden cardiac arrest at the T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. 49-year-old Frederick Snedecor of Cocoa Beach, Florida was found unconscious in a wheelchair by a Southwest Airlines skycap, who immediately notified Officer Michael Mefford, of the airport's police force. Mefford and a passerby immediately began CPR on Snedecor while Mefford radioed for the automated external defibrillator (AED) to be brought to the location. Once the AED was in position and the pads were placed on Snedecor's chest, Mefford shocked Snedecor twice and he then began breathing on his own. According to the Providence Journal, this was the first time the airport's AED saved a life, and the fourth time that someone was saved by an AED in the state of Rhode Island.

Snedecor was taken to a local hospital where he became conscious and alert. He is alive today thanks to the AED and the officer who used the device.

On plane

Michael Tighe, 62, and his wife Delores were headed to sunny California from their native Boston on an American Airlines flight. Delores was scheduled to attend a nursing convention and both planned on visiting with one of their four daughters. Their travels took a dramatic turn and, lucky for the Tighes, the airline was prepared.

"I really don't remember any of it. I was watching the movie and I passed out," says Michael. He collapsed in his seat, one arm falling to the side. Delores knew by the way that his arm dangled that something was wrong. It was obvious Michael had stopped breathing and Delores couldn't get a pulse. She immediately began performing CPR. "Then the flight attendant was there," Delores said, "with this box." As the flight crew and Delores attempted to move Michael to the floor, nearby passengers also offered to help. The flight crew attached the pads of the automated external defibrillator (AED) to Michael's torso. The AED detected a shockable rhythm and verbally instructed the responders to press the shock button. After administering five shocks, Michael began breathing again. Michael Tighe became the first person to be saved in-flight from sudden cardiac arrest. The lifesaving AED had been installed only three days earlier. The Tighes are very familiar with defibrillators and how they can save victims who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest. In fact, Michael, who is community affairs director for the Boston Public Health Commission, has played a key role in driving the city's efforts to place AEDs in public locations such as office buildings, hotels, malls, and sports arenas. Today, his campaigning takes on a new meaning - his pitch truly comes from the heart.

Michael is outspoken when it comes to having AEDs on planes. "It's very gratifying that somewhere, someone convinced American Airlines to put them in. Because someone convinced the airline, I'm alive today."

Maui

Michael Tighe, 62, and his wife Delores were headed to sunny California from their native Boston on an American Airlines flight. Delores was scheduled to attend a nursing convention and both planned on visiting with one of their four daughters. Their travels took a dramatic turn and, lucky for the Tighes, the airline was prepared.

"I really don't remember any of it. I was watching the movie and I passed out," says Michael. He collapsed in his seat, one arm falling to the side. Delores knew by the way that his arm dangled that something was wrong. It was obvious Michael had stopped breathing and Delores couldn't get a pulse. She immediately began performing CPR. "Then the flight attendant was there," Delores said, "with this box." As the flight crew and Delores attempted to move Michael to the floor, nearby passengers also offered to help. The flight crew attached the pads of the automated external defibrillator (AED) to Michael's torso. The AED detected a shockable rhythm and verbally instructed the responders to press the shock button. After administering five shocks, Michael began breathing again. Michael Tighe became the first person to be saved in-flight from sudden cardiac arrest. The lifesaving AED had been installed only three days earlier. The Tighes are very familiar with defibrillators and how they can save victims who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest. In fact, Michael, who is community affairs director for the Boston Public Health Commission, has played a key role in driving the city's efforts to place AEDs in public locations such as office buildings, hotels, malls, and sports arenas. Today, his campaigning takes on a new meaning - his pitch truly comes from the heart.

Michael is outspoken when it comes to having AEDs on planes. "It's very gratifying that somewhere, someone convinced American Airlines to put them in. Because someone convinced the airline, I'm alive today."

 

Near Fire Station

Helen M. is one of those inspirational ladies who enjoys every single day and is a delight to each person she meets. Full of fun, energy and a positive attitude, Helen also has a big, warm heart for friends old and new. At 88 years young, she is still going strong, thanks to a special team at the Springfield, Oregon Fire Department.

Helen's heart went into ventricular fibrillation. As she looks back on it, she had absolutely no warning signs. She felt fine that day, drove herself to the Doubletree Hotel to meet friends for an auction, walked into the lobby...and collapsed. Two bystanders immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and 9-1-1 was quickly called.

Springfield Fire Department's Station 5 was brand new. In fact, it had only been open a few weeks. The local neighborhood needed closer fire protection, and now it was a reality. Captain/paramedic Doug Cox, a 12-year veteran of the Springfield Department, was on the call to the Doubletree that day. He and his team arrived at the hotel in less than three minutes; firemen from the next closest station would probably have taken eight or nine minutes. As Helen says, she is "...very, very grateful help was so near."

Captain Cox and his team found Helen with no pulse and not breathing on her own. "It really helps us when we come on the scene and find someone already performing CPR," said Captain Cox. "Keeping oxygen moving to the vital organs is critical for the survival of the patient. In this case, we were fortunate to have bystanders willing to jump in and help a stranger."

A single shock from the AED brought Helen's heart back to a more stable rhythm. She began breathing, and was quickly transported to the hospital for treatment, which included an implanted defibrillator to assist in case of future cardiac episodes.

Helen's son, George, a biochemist who lives across the country in Pennsylvania, received the call from his mother's doctor. "She had a history of a slow heartbeat and a potassium imbalance," her son said. "For some reason that day her heart went into ventricular fibrillation. I'm so thankful help was there, because my mother is truly an inspiration to me."

Thanks to the new fire station and to quick and proper implementation of the Chain of Survival, Helen continues to light up the lives of those around her.

Springfield, Oregon, a city of 52,000, is known for its top-notch emergency response system, with almost two-thirds of its firefighters trained as paramedics. Springfield's Fire Department has been well prepared since 1987, when it became one of the earliest departments in the nation to pioneer "Rapid Zap," as it was known by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Rapid Zap was a resolution to train and equip fire department "first responders" with automated external defibrillators to save lives. Ideally, ambulances and trained paramedics would be first on the scene, but in many cases the fire or police department can arrive more quickly.

Police

One Saturday afternoon Police Sergeant Mark Vollmar, 41, of Muncie, Indiana, was off duty driving with his two sons, Nicholas and Christopher, when he started feeling chest pain. Mark attempted to pull over, but became unconscious and lost control of the car. As the car swerved, nine-year-old Nicolas immediately turned off the ignition, but the car struck another vehicle and the two boys were left not knowing what to do.

Two nurses, who had been walking along the street, witnessed the cars colliding and immediately assisted the boys by starting CPR on Mark, who at this point was pale and lifeless. At the same time, a passing motorist flagged down Corporal Danny Hahn's patrol car and reported to the officer that a motorist had become unconscious. Hahn raced to the scene to assess the victim's status. After determining Mark had no pulse, Hahn ran to his trunk for his automated external defibrillator (AED), which had been recently purchased by his department. Hahn applied the pads to Mark's chest and turned on the device. As the AED analyzed Mark's heart, it detected a shockable rhythm and verbally instructed Hahn to administer a shock. After the second shock, Mark's vital signs began to return. The paramedics arrived on the scene and Hahn's job was completed.

It was only after someone showed Cpl. Hahn Marks badge that he realized he had just saved the life of a fellow officer, or, as he says, "a member of the family." Hahn refused to take any credit, and felt that he had done what he was trained to do at the scene of an accident; but being a lifesaver is an experience that will stick with him for a long time. "I'll never forget this, he said. "He is a family member."