I missed the tip-off to the Wisconsin/Arizona game

[Scuba]

I was on my hands and knees in the back of a restaraunt giving CPR to a man who collapsed. Paramedics arrived about 10 minutes later and carted him off to the local hospital - blue, unresponsive but alive. We heard later his preliminary diagnosis was heart attack and he was taken by air ambulance to the better-equipped facility in Appleton. Hope he makes it.

I had only arrived a couple minutes earlier when there was a commotion behind us. At first I though a drunk fell (statistically most probable for the venue), then that a man was having a seizure. When someone asked "does anyone know CPR?" I jumped in, checked that his throat was clear and started chest compressions. A heads-up waitress callled 911.

I had very recently read that mouth-to-mouth is no longer a required element for lay persons giving CPR, but that Continuous Chest Compression (called Hands Only by the American Heart Association) is a recommended method for "bystanders who witness an adult suddenly collapse." I started counting to 100 when another fellow joined and began mouth-to-mouth. Fortunately we were able to give the man full CPR. (When I spoke to him later I found it amusing that we were both long-time healthcare guys with virtually no hands-on clinical experience. Just a couple engineers with specialties in healthcare who had CPR training in our pasts.)


For those "unwilling, unable, untrained or are no longer able to perform full CPR" Continuous Chest Compression without mouth-to-mouth is now a "preferred method for bystanders who witness an adult suddenly collapse."

http://www.responsetrack.net/staywell/0408/Compression_Only_CPR/?1484O1B76CV

Anyway, I hope the guy makes it. Oh, and the Badgers won.

[elleng]

1. Thanks for the info.

[irisblue]

2. and my evening was quiet

you rocked yours...

oh yeah....badgerbadgerbadger

[postulater]

3. Thanks for doing that. I was recently re-certified and that was the way the Red Cross is teaching

it now.

I'm surprised more restaurants don't pay for at least some of their employees to know CPR. They should also have an AED on-site.

And the Badgers were tough tonight.

[indie9197]

4. Let us know if the guy made it, ok?

I was just reading an article about a toddler that was pulled out of icy water that received over 100 minutes of CPR (by many people) and survived. I recently received CPR and AED training at work after not having it for about 10 years. I was very rusty. It definitely should be a yearly training I think. In a real emergency, the average person does not have the strength to perform CPR for a long time- you need to take turns with other qualified people.

[Scuba]

5. Yes, and in re-reading my post I see I failed to credit others who helped.

After I had been compressing for a minute or so a woman offered to relieve me. I was glad she did; I think she did a better job than I had been doing.

Others helped as well. In fact when I stood up there were people literally waiting in line to help.

I was also rusty, and have already resolved to get re-certified.


If I learn of an outcome, I'll post it. Thanks for caring.

[hootinholler]

6. The Bee Gees!

Staying Alive is about the right pace.

[B Calm]

7. I think Wisconsin will win it!

[Sunlei]

8. Thank you for posting the- Continuous Chest Compression video

[marym625]

9. so wonderful!

You made me cry. You're quite a guy.

:

I have also read that the full cpr should have fewer breaths than previously believed. I would have done exactly what you did with the hands only and just hoped I remembered correctly. But I wouldn't have jumped in until I knew no one else was going to.

I have read that Seattle has fewer people that die from heart attack because more people know cpr. It's a great thing to learn.

Good for you Scuba!

[hue]

10. Perfect Scuba!! I always knew You were Hero material!!

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Nice Job Dude

I just got recertified in August. That's how they taught us.

[Laffy Kat]

12. Wow! It's so rare to actually save someone's life.

Talk about that guy being in the right place at the right time! Fingers-crossed he'll continue to improve.

[Gothmog]

13. My firm is doing a recertification class next week

I guess that I need to attend

[Enthusiast]

14. Way to go, Scuba! Sorry I missed this post earlier.

Those Badgers were incredible!

[Dont call me Shirley]

15. Excellent work!

[unionthug777]

16. my hero !!!

scuba !!!

[uppityperson]

17. Wonderful job. I skipped this thread earlier, thought it was about sports.

[gratuitous]

18. Good job!

Thankfully the waitress called 911, but if any DUers find themselves in a similar situation, just as you get to work on the victim, pick out someone from the by-standers and say, "You! Call 911 for an ambulance!" The waitress is to be commended as well, because she's going to know the address of the establishment and offer directions if needed.

Also good on woman who jumped in to relieve you. CPR can be very tiring, and switching off keeps a fresh person on the job until the varsity arrives.

[notadmblnd]

19. When I took the class a couple of years ago, it was 30 compressions to 1 breath

whereas in the past I was taught 10 compressions to 1 breath.

[malaise]

20. Wonderful