Do you know what to do if someone cardiac arrests in front of you?

[1monster]

Pass it on. Step by step instructions here: http://www.heartrescuenow.com/

[alfredo]

1. Grab their wallet and run?

[freshwest]

41. LOL, but the sick dog in me said that first, too. I wouldn't because I just wouldn't.

Everyone in my family died this way and I will too, so I'm ready to render assistance to them and also know what to do for me.

Alfredo:

[Cerridwen]

50. I have no sense of humor. Could you explain, please.

I see you kicking someone when they are not only down but dying. Could you please explain the humor in doing what you described? Could you perhaps explain why it is that treating people as a punchline is funny...beyond the peasants insurance angle of it?

Thank you.

[alfredo]

55. Absurdity is one of many tools in humor. Surprise is another tool of humor. There is

also something called black humor or gallows humor. The comic strip Raw Meat is a good example of black humor. The greatest humor comes from tragedy.

Examples

All extremists should be taken out and shot.

Join the Army! Travel to exotic, distant lands. Meet exciting, unusual people, and kill them.
from "Full Metal Jacket"

[sammytko]

2. Dial 911 and run?

[KansDem]

3. I had CPR training when I worked as a hospital orderly...

But that was in the late-1970s so a refresher is due.

Thanks for the link. I'll "attend class" later this weekend.

An afterthought: The opening scene, showing a body lying on the floor of the mall with people passing by, reminds me of a movie I saw recently on DVD. I believe it was a futuristic society (2030s?) when folks would die in public and other folks just passed by. I forgot the title...

[radhika]

22. I took CPR a few years ago - but don't remember a thing, I'm afraid. Thanks for the reminder n/t

[rustydog]

49. Wow, I haven't heard the title orderly in AGES! We had orderlies in our hospital

but in 1979 or 80 the Admin decided we didn't need orderlies and canned them. About 6 months later we hired Transport techs!

[KansDem]

59. "Transport Tech"

Same job, different name?

I was an orderly in an x-ray department for three years. Worked days the first two years and evenings the third. As a day orderly, I assisted with special procedures (arteriograms, angiograms, etc): transported patients to and from their rooms, developed the films, assisted the radiologist, nurse, and techs when needed.

When I went to evenings, I usually transported patients to and from the emergency room in addition to house patients who needed routine chest x-rays for the next day's procedure, and developed films. Also billing and other clerical work.

I learned a lot during the years, about the medical profession and life, in general.

I learned that doctors ran the gamut in competence and ability. There were some truly dedicated: they would be there at 7am and 11pm the same day. And there were some I wouldn't trust with my dog! Real eye-openers! The rest in the middle formed the typical bell-curve. But it was a great experience and education.

Working with the emergency room, I learned a few basic lessons in life:
1) You don't drink a 6-pack of beer and then go for a motorcycle ride;
2) You don't mess around with home-made bombs;
3) You don't swerve into on-coming traffic to avoid hitting a small rodent;
4) You can exit this life at any time with no warning whatsoever.

Worked with some great folks, too!

[lunatica]

4. Give them 2 aspiring and call their doctor

This is actually a thing that should be done. The aspirin part.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Only if they are conscious and cam swallow

I guarantee somebody in cardiac arrest is neither conscious or can swallow

[lunatica]

54. I stand corrected

Thanks! These are important things to know

[progressivebydesign]

18. Cardiac arrest means that their heart has stopped.. it's not a heart attack.

Big difference. If someone has pain and is having a heart attack, then yes... give aspirin and call 911.

If they are in cardiac arrest, and the heart has stopped, you give CPR pronto!!! They don't suggest mouth to mouth anymore, you just keep the heart pumping until help can arrive.. usually with a defib that can restart it.

[MannyGoldstein]

37. #1 Cause of death in the US - unexpected sudden cardiac arrest

Roughly 1,000 people each day.

It's an electrical problem in the heart that happens suddenly, and the first warning sign is usually unconsciousness. Death follows in 5-10 minutes unless an AED is applied. It's often called a "massive heart attack" in the press, but a heart attack is a plumbing problem rather than an electrical problem, and typically starts with chest pain, etc.

[lunatica]

52. Thanks for the clarification

I'm glad for the education

[LisaL]

43. If they are passed out, I presume they are going to choke if you stick aspirin down their throat.

[lunatica]

53. I've been set straight on the facts now

Thanks.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. VERY GOOD to know! Thanks for sharing.

[handmade34]

6. thanks, pass it on...

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000063.htm

http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/injuries_and_poisoning/first_aid/cardiac_arrest.html

[riverbendviewgal]

7. great post

I did pass it on.

[MADem]

9. Very cool--idiot proof directions, too. Thanks! nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. That was my impression too

It also incorporated the new CPR icky free instructions protocols.

Fun fact, they removed the breathing part since stopping every fifteen compressions actually dropped Presure to zero, and you had to work to reestablish it.

Second fun fact, this was developed in Tucson and first deployed by Tucson EMS.

[Egalitarian Thug]

10. Yes. n/t

[Whisp]

11. good to see but these AEDs...

what is that acronym stand for and where exactly are they available - just malls?

what country was this filmed in?

I was going to forward this to some people I know because the beginning looked very practical ... then the AED thing threw me off.

[pasto76]

14. Automated External Defibrillator

in 2001 when I started my medic training, it was predicted by our instructor that AEDs will become commonplace, and eventually an organization or building management would be sued because they _didnt_ have AED available.

Most civil installations have them, look in your airports, city and county buildings. Malls should al have them. My university had them.

the AED is a very good tool to have in the hands of someone with actual experience. Don't get thrown though, CPR will work like it always has on its own.

[1monster]

23. "Don't get thrown though, CPR will work like it always has on its own." As this article

proves:

http://www.historiccity.com/2012/staugustine/news/florida/teamwork-spares-life-of-68-year-old-runner-28612

Teamwork spares life of 68-year-old runner


During the running of this week’s Summer Shotgun Race hosted by the City of Palm Coast, Historic City News learned that five runners had to take a break from the competition after a fellow runner collapsed in cardiac arrest.

...

After the race began, these five runners were surprised when a 68-year-old man collapsed on the route. He was described as unconscious and unresponsive. The group immediately began CPR, trading off applications, until emergency medical services arrived.

The victim regained consciousness and was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler.

At the last report, he was expected to recover from the episode.

[LisaL]

45. Just because it worked on one guy, doesn't mean it will work for everybody.

Vast majority of people who go into cardiac arrest outside of the hospital are going to end up dead.

[1monster]

47. If there is no AED available, as in the case I posted about, CPR can save the life of a person

who is in cardiac arrest.

Will it work in every case? No. Of course not. But the chances it will work are far better than not doing the CPR, because without it, the person will not survive.

[LisaL]

62. According to American Heart Association, vast majority of people in cardiac arrest die if cardiac

arrest happens outside the hospital. CPR does significantly improve chances of survival, but by no means guarantees it.

[randome]

25. Will a taser work?

[lastlib]

30. No

Tasers can have the opposite effect, inducing arrhythmia which can lead to cardiac arrest. The actual voltage of a taser jolt is MUCH higher than from an AED. It would be extremely dangerous (possibly fatal) to use one on a cardiac-arrest patient.

[Duer 157099]

28. I didn't even know those existed until last week's episode of Breaking Bad

Sometimes TV can be helpful

[Major Nikon]

39. We have them at work and I don't think they will work that way

There are some sensors on stickies that have to be deployed before the unit will operate and if it detects a heartbeat it won't work. At least that's what they told us in training.

[Major Nikon]

40. We have them at work

CPR, first aid, and AED training is offered free of charge for us once per year. Unfortunately most employees don't take advantage.

Sadly we had an 80 year old employee who died in his office chair, a coworker found him after several minutes had gone by. He called 911, but didn't tell anyone else so nobody knew about it till the ambulance arrived. I would have at least tried the AED and/or CPR had I found him.

[1monster]

15. Automated External Defibrillator They are located in malls, schools, office buildings,

grocery stores, etc.

I know I've seen at least two in some of the school I'm in.

[leeroysphitz]

12. You'll need a 120 volt capacamater STAT.

[liberalmuse]

16. Thank you! I volunteered to try out our AED's at work..

...we have a division that makes them. These are wonderful devices, and they are all over these days - I'd love to have one in my car. The 1st 5 minutes are crucial - after that, the person has less and less of a chance of survival.

[MannyGoldstein]

57. Do you mean you volunteered to be defibrillated?

Yikes!

Actually, they won't deliver a shock if your not in cardiac arrrest.

[pinboy3niner]

17. I usually just throw my hands in the air and...

[eilen]

19. Compressions.

and tell someone to call 911.

[RainDog]

20. k&r n/t

[Patiod]

21. There's a woman alive somewhere in Pittsburgh b/c of this

My SO, Ralph, who learned CPR when he was in college, came upon a young woman having an MI on a busy street in Philadelphia. He gave her CPR while the cops in the area called an ambulance, cleared out the gawkers, and cleared the street. When EMR arrived, they had Ralph continue CPR while they got her ready to shock and move.

Long story, but because both he and the MI victim worked for the same organization (without knowing it), he was tracked down, recognized by the city and by the Red Cross (the victim was out of the hospital by that time, and gave him a bouquet of flowers)

The newer procedures are a lot easier than the old ones he used.

[renate]

65. wow--that's AMAZING

Good for him!

It must be the most incredible feeling for him to know he's saved someone's life... and even more incredible for the woman to know her life was saved. That's fantastic!

[Patiod]

67. Amazing for him, and for her mother

Before we moved, her mom used to call us every Thanksgiving (it happened two days before Thanksgiving).

He has occasionally interrupted a discussion or argument with "hello? anyone here save a life - raise your hand. No one else? I didn't think so" So there's that to deal with

Funny story - my best girlfriend is from Pittsburgh. She was home for Thanksgiving, and her little brother was telling the family about his friend Becky: "Hey, mom, you know your friend Marie? You remember she didn't want her daughter Becky moving to Philadelphia because she was sure Becky would get raped and murdered? Well it turns out Becky had a heart attack out on the street, and some total stranger gave her CPR and saved her life." My friend told her family "well actually, he might have been a stranger to Becky, but he's Patiod's boyfriend."

Small state, huh?

[Zoigal]

24. Thanks, am sending this to all the family, etc

Both my husband and i have heart problems and would certainly
appreciate someone helping us if the need arises....the kids all work in offices where i seriously doubt if there is an AED..hopefully this will alert someone
to install one...should lower the insurance rates, too.....thanks imonster

[1monster]

26. You're welcome. But remember, the CPR works too... you just have to have more

than one person doing it, so they can trade off when one gets to tired.

[Jim Lane]

42. I think this video was prepared by an AED manufacturer

So naturally they downplay the old-fashioned CPR.

A training video with up-to-date CPR methods would probably be more useful but wouldn't swell any corporate coffers.

[LisaL]

44. CPR imroves chances of survival, but by no means guarantees it.

IF AED is available, then obviously it should be used.

[RKP5637]

27. K&R !!! n/t

[barbtries]

29. i took a class

many years ago. i'm going through it in my mind before i click on the link. thank you for sharing

[lastlib]

31. you'd better update your training, b/c a lot of the technique has evolved.

A fairly recent change is the distance to compress: one-third of the thickness of the patient's body. This is appropriate for adults, younger children, and infants.

[TahitiNut]

32. While giving CPR, sing THIS.

Even better, have it ready on your iPod and keep beat to the music.

It wouldn't hurt to have TWO copies.

If you're caught with it, just look for someone in their 50s, wearing a polyester blend and listening to their iPod (or Walkman).

[auntAgonist]

33. As crazy as that sounds, our instructor (cpr, first aid etc) actually advocated for this!

It has just the right rhythm.

ty.

aA
kesha

[TahitiNut]

34. Wha? You can't tell when I'm sirius?

Woof! (Sirius is the dog star.)

((You probably thought it was Rin-Tin-Tin. Or Lassie.))

[caseymoz]

35. Happened to my 26-yo nephew.

No warning. No previous history. He just collapsed. Luckily his friend and his friend's mother called 911 without delay. His friend applied CPR under the operator's instructions. He was also lucky that the house was within two blocks of a fire station (and the city hadn't laid off those firefighters).

They shocked him once and his heart went back into rhythm. The hospital gave him hypothermia therapy.

When he awoke, he couldn't remember anything for three days before the incident. So, he was right on edge of having his brain die. You have six minutes to get the heart restarted before brain damage starts to occur.

My nephew owes his life to his friend, is friend's mother, and of course, to the firefighters.

[chowder66]

36. Thank you for sharing! Learned a lot. nt

[mia]

38. k & r

Thank you!

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

46. Check their wallet/purse for a voter registration card (or look at bumper stickers)

Depending on their affiliation...

[lordsummerisle]

48. The very first thing you do

is get help or call 911.

[slampoet]

51. First step, correct them on using cardiac arrest as a verb AFTER they are stabilized.

[1monster]

60. The English language is VERY flexible. We have many, many verbs today that started

out as nouns. And more than a few nouns that started out as verbs. And using "cardia arrests" as a verb has been quite common for some time now.

So, grammar police officer slampoet, it's time for you to get your certification updated. :p

[slampoet]

64. If you can't find a citation you insult me.

You are sad.

[1monster]

66. I thought you were adding some levity to important subject and threw some back at

you. Now I see that your were serious. Perhaps you need to grow a bit of a thicker skin if you were insulted by that, because it was not my intention to insult you. (At least not before I read your reply.)

But truthfully, using nouns as verbs is something that we English speakers have been doing for many years in this country.

Examples: (I didn't make any of these sentences up.)

They railroaded the accused man.

I could never marry a man like Jim, who spends his life tomcatting around town.

We shoehorned in a version of the new software that the old computer could accept. (This one was in a
company's technical manual.)

And guess what? Sometimes in English, verbs are used as nouns, such as in, oh say, cardiac ARREST. Arrest is a verb.

[Historic NY]

56. Easiest one to remember "STAYING ALIVE"...BEE_GEES song...really.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/0606/hands-only-cpr-keeps-people-stayin-alive.aspx

http://bcove.me/1p94sqj9'

[spanone]

58. k&r...

[rug]

63. Read him his rites.

[HereSince1628]

68. LOL, do patent leather shoes shine up?

[rug]

69. As I recall,

yes.