External defibrillators breathe new life into CPR

[kodiac_x]

External defibrillators breathe new life into CPR

By Erin Kelley-Gedischk

Saanich News

Mar 22 2006

Push harder and push faster when performing CPR, says the new Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada guidelines. The new technique is designed to save more lives, but it is still difficult to perform correctly.

In event of a heart attack, ambulance response time is generally not fast enough to save a life without some form of immediate first aid.

"When an individual goes down you've got 10 minutes to respond," said Gene Hemsworth, CPR trainer for EMP Services Canada. "That 10 minutes goes by very fast."

If paramedics do not arrive on scene before then, it's too late.Less than five people out of 100 who receive CPR will survive - even with revamped CPR guidelines, Hemsworth said. However, the number of survivors could increase significantly if people had greater access to automated external defibrillators.

"As high as 50 per cent of people will recover if an AED is used correctly," Hemsworth said.

AEDs are simple-to-use machines with a set of stick-on chest pads. An automated voice leads the user through resuscitation steps. If necessary, the AED will administer electric shocks to help restart the heart's rhythm. The phonebook-sized machine costs approximately $4,000.

"With 100,000 people dying of heart-related incidents across Canada each year, you can reduce that number to 50,000 or maybe even 40,000 people - which is a huge number considering that they would have otherwise been dead," Hemsworth said.

Not too long ago, only doctors and paramedics could jump-start a heart with a defibrillator. New technology has made defibrillators easier to use and less expensive.

The heart and stroke foundation of Canada is urging businesses to train staff and to install AEDs in public places.

"Alberta became the first province in the country to embrace the use of AEDs. They started programs in Calgary and Edmonton and then it spread through the province," Hemsworth said. "Now anywhere there are large gatherings of people, they place AEDs."

B.C. Ferries, Victoria police and some recreation centres are outfitted with defibrillators, but the province still lags behind.

"It's now starting to spread across Canada, but perhaps a little slower in the other provinces," Hemsworth said.

Dr. Greg Franklin is one of many doctors in B.C. required by the Workers Compensation Board to oversee AED use in businesses.

"It's a little more structured here in B.C. than Alberta," Franklin said. "I think the B.C. guidelines made by WCB are considered the leading guidelines on public access defibrillators in Canada."

The medical director provides assistance with selecting an AED unit and training, offers medical oversight of policies, procedures, laws and regulations, post-incident data management, AED data analysis and technical assistance.

Furthermore, all staff must have current certification. Local training programs cost approximately $70. However, if an individual uses an AED without proper certification, they would be covered by the Good Samaritans act.

Staff at Pearkes Arena saved two lives since they purchased an AED four years ago.

[AnthonyM83]

I'm seeing them more and more at at places like airports and ballparks. If you open the door, an attendent is dispatched to the AED box.

I also passed by a San Francisco police station this weekend that had a sign out front that said "AED HERE"

[bandaidpatrol]

I suppose if someone did disagree, that's their right...

But I would wonder why they are in this profession.

[hfdff422]

Every minute equals 10% is a good rule of thumb, but it is actually worse than that as it starts declining exponentially after about 8-10 minutes.

[tinman694]

I suppose if someone did disagree, that's their right...

But I would wonder why they are in this profession.

Because it is fun to be the 1 out 5 doctors who won't back whatever product

:angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire:

[Ridryder 911]

I thought this was "old news".. we have studied this stuff to death, since the 80's. I hope someday we will see them mounted and be requireed like each fire extiguisher unit. It doesn't tale a rocket scientist to use one.

R/R 911

[Dustdevil]

It doesn't tale a rocket scientist to use one.

It does if you're stupid enough to buy the Physio.

I supervised PAD programs for a safety company for a couple of years and found that, even after classes, a great many employees of the companies that had them in their workplace were not comfortable using them. It wasn't poor training. It was poor choice of device. Clearly, like monitor/defibs, all AED's are not created equally and the single most important feature of an AED is none other than user friendliness. Not all of them have it.

[nwoparamedics]

The medical director provides assistance with selecting an AED unit and training, offers medical oversight of policies, procedures, laws and regulations, post-incident data management, AED data analysis and technical assistance.

Ridryder 911, I really wish it was old news to some of us... but in our arse backward system :wink: it is still considered a delegated medical act, and a physician has full control over everyone that uses these almost idiot proof boxes.

Until they relinquish some control... unfortunately places like Ontario will not see them used extensively in the public. And relenquishing control is not a strong suit of some government officials... no matter how much we evolve.

[Ridryder 911]

Wow !.. now that surprises me.. you can buy AED's now at Sam's (a division of Wal-Mart) for $2500, locally here.

R/R 911

[nwoparamedics]

Sad, and scarey.

Our local Pulp and Paper mill (now US owned - Weyerhauser) bought an AED a few years back... and it still sits in the back room collecting dust.

They had permission to buy one from head office, yet once they purchased it, found out they needed a Physician to train them on it and certify them to use it.

Needless to say... good paperweight.