Everyday, Thousands of people suffer from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Would you know how to help?

[pokerfan]

Simulation of a cardiac arrest in a shopping mall with first responder steps: 911, Chest compressions and CPR. Interactive video:

http://www.heartrescuenow.com/

[proud patriot]

1. I'm trained and certified

and when my dad was suffering chest pain earlier this year I gave him an asprin and drove him to the emergency room.

the first thing the nurse asked was have you taken an asprin , he said yes my duaghter gave me one the nurse said that may have saved his life . he under went surgery to deal with the blockage.

He's doing well now and eating healthy etc.. now if we can get him to learn to say no sometimes when his expertise is needed
for a concert somewhere his life can settle and I won't worry .

[Live and Learn]

3. Great reminder. Think I will start carrying a small supply of aspirin with me. nt

[pokerfan]

13. baby aspirin is good

4x81mg = 325mg chewed up seems to be the standard protocol. (Chewing breaks down the pill's coating so it can be absorbed more quickly.)

http://www.firehouse.com/forums/t106636/

Also keep in mind that aspirin has a limited (36 month) shelf life so keep that supply up to date.

[Live and Learn]

14. I know that many take baby aspirin daily to prevent but wondered

if a baby aspirin is really enough when actually having an attack. Is it?

[pokerfan]

16. According to the Red Cross

The incidence of heart attacks in the United States is one per 1000 population per year. Chest pain is a major manifestation of heart attacks. There has been popular press and advertising attention rendered to the common medical practice of administering aspirin in the setting of chest pain thought to be of cardiac origin. Thus it is very important that Red Cross First Aid personnel be advised on the implementation of this therapy which has been shown to be of benefit in the early response to heart attacks. Aspirin is a safe and effective treatment for heart attacks in combination with many other methods of care.

The "lay rescuer" should immediately call 9-1-1 or activate the local EMS unit; and make the patient as comfortable as possible. If the patient is conscious and able to take oral medication and the patient denies

-Allergy to aspirin
-Stomach ulcer disease, or,
-Taking “blood thinners” (Coumadin, Warfarin, or other anti-platelet drugs)

the lay rescuer should offer two chewable (162 mg) baby aspirins or up to as much as one five grain (325 mg) adult aspirin tablet with a small amount of water. If a patient has been revived or resuscitated from a suspected cardiac event, then the "lay rescuer" should offer aspirin treatment if the patient is able to ingest oral medications and does not have any of the above listed contraindications.

NOTE: Tylenol, Acetaminophen, Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen and other pain killers are NOT equivalent to Aspirin

http://www.instructorscorner.org/media/resources/SAC/Asp%20Admin%20Chest%20Pain%20Lay%20Resps.pdf

[Live and Learn]

20. Thank you. Should have looked it up myself. nt

[Live and Learn]

2. Unfortunately, I have never come across an AED emergency box

in any of the places I usually frequent.

[jonthebru]

11. Most venues have them almost all Police cars have them.

If your church or other social hall doesn't have one raise the issue.

[Live and Learn]

15. We don't even have them at work (government agency with over 1000 people in our building).

I honestly have never seen one anywhere I have been.

[jody]

4. On 2 June 2007, two guardian angels kept trying until paramedics came. The medics told me later

I was dead but they kept trying until they got me to the emergency room.

Doctors there kept trying and finally got a stable heart beat to justify a triple bypass.

Today I enjoy life but I have a haunting question, "Most people only die once but I've got to do it again so where did I go wrong?"

[virgogal]

6. Wow! Glad you're still with us,thanks to people who knew what to do.

[Tigress DEM]

9. Only the GOOD die young. You're a DEM and we need you til you're an old fart.

[jody]

12. When does one become an "old fart"? Be careful I'm 77.

[pokerfan]

18. To me, an old fart is anyone 25 years older than me

so you don't qualify.

[enlightenment]

5. My father was resucitated after a sudden cardiac arrest

by an AZ State Trooper who had just received training and was carrying the only portable defibrillator in the county. Dad lived a good number of years after that, thanks to good training and a quick response.

Many years ago I taught first aid and CPR for the Red Cross. I always had at least one student in the class who wondered why it was worth it to try when statistically the majority of victims did not survive in the long run (remember, many years ago). "How" they wondered, could they live with knowing that they had failed to save a life?

I asked them to imagine standing with a group of friends. Suddenly one of their friends clutches their chest and drops to the ground; they were going into cardiac arrest.

Who would they rather be at that point, I asked them? The friend who could try to help, even if it failed - or the friend who could do nothing but call 911 and wait helplessly, watching their friend die at their feet.

Most said they would rather be able to do something.

It is worth it to learn basic first aid and CPR, regardless of the outcome.

[HockeyMom]

7. I was trained and certified in public schools and agencies for developmentally disabled

You also have to be re-trained and re-certified over the years. It is required by law in order to work with the special needs population: children and adults. There are different procedures for performing CPR on babies, children, and adults.

[jonthebru]

8. Yes, I would.

[rsweets]

17. + 1

[Rhiannon12866]

19. K&R! Yes, but need to get recertified.

Thanks for posting this and for the reminder...