The world of medicine is full of sometimes confusing acronyms, and
these are two more of them. You may be very familiar with CPR,
which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. You may or may not
know what an AED is. It is an Automatic External Defibrillator. An
AED delivers an electrical shock that will eliminate some fatal
heart arrhythmias and allow a normal rhythm to resume.
Although many of
us may know what the letters stand for, you may still wonder “Why
should I learn CPR?” “Aren’t medical professionals the only ones
who need to know how to do that, or who are capable of doing it
properly?” Let me answer those questions for you.
Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation is the application of an emergency medical procedure
for a person who has stopped breathing, or whose heart has stopped
or gone into a deadly heart rhythm. CPR is the combination of
rescue breathing and heart compressions that manually pumps a small
amount of blood through the heart and oxygen into the lungs to keep
heart and brain tissues alive until advanced life support help
arrives. This requires some training, but can be learned by anyone
who is willing. It can be performed in hospitals, or in the
community by laypersons or emergency response personnel. While
there are no reliable national statistics on CPR because no single
agency collects information about it, many studies have examined the
effect of CPR. While they show varying rates of success, all are
consistent in showing benefits from early CPR. In cities such as
Seattle, which has taken on a definitive effort to teach CPR to lay
people, and EMS response time is short, survival from cardiac arrest
is around 30%. In cities such as New York, where few victims
receive bystander CPR and EMS response time is long, survival rate
averages 1-2%. That is a huge difference.
On to AEDs...Several
years ago, the father of Judy Everly, Warren Hamburg, at age 77, was
playing tennis at his club. His heart went into an irregular
rhythm, one that cannot sustain life. Help was called, the tennis
pro brought the club’s AED to the court and used it. Warren’s heart
arrhythmia was interrupted, normal rhythm restored, and Warren lived
to get to the hospital and have a pacemaker implanted. He lived
many more years, bringing joy and laughter to his family and those
of us who were lucky enough to know him.
An Automatic
External Defibrillator is a computerized device about the size of a
laptop computer, weighing about 8 pounds. It can be used by lay
people and healthcare professionals alike. It is easily attached to
a person who has collapsed, and in its weird automated voice will
lead rescuers through the steps of its use. The AED will analyze
the heart rhythm and determine if a shock is needed, then prompt the
rescuer to deliver the shock. AEDs are found in many places now –
on airplanes, in the mall, in churches and schools. One more story
– one of my co-workers was at her son’s lacrosse game in Raleigh a
few years ago. A player was hit in the chest is just such a way
that it threw his heart into ventricular fibrillation, a rhythm that
does not allow the heart to pump blood. The school had just
purchased an AED, it was brought to the field where my co worker
applied it, a shock was delivered, and the young man’s heart was
restored to a normal rhythm and function.
Years ago, our
former pastor, Paul Ransford, arranged for Westminster to purchase
an AED. It is hanging in a case in the Mission Center, just to the
left of the reception desk as you enter the building. We are
fortunate there has not been the need to use it yet, but it is
important that as many of us as possible know it is there, and how
to use it.
On
Saturday, November 14, the Health Ministry is sponsoring a CPR
class. This is a basic class, meant for all laypeople who care to
learn basic life saving techniques. It will only take 2 hours of
your time, costs only $25, and will provide you with knowledge to
last a lifetime.
Anyone over the age of
7 is encouraged to attend. We will have instruction in the American
Heart Association recommended method of CPR, and have a chance to
practice on dummies. There will also be an opportunity to see an AED
and how it functions. Please come and join us.
If I may add a
personal note, I am writing this on the first anniversary of our
dear friend Bert Loro’s death. Bert suffered a heart attack after
playing racquetball in the gym on Duke’s campus. Immediate
emergency care was given, fast EMS response occurred, yet still Bert
died. CPR and excellent medical care do not preclude a tragic
outcome. Yet nearly a year ago, CPR and excellent medical care kept
Heath Tuttle alive long enough to get a life saving heart
transplant. Only God knows who will survive and who will die, but He
has given us abilities I believe we are expected to use to help one
another. In this season of stewardship, learning how to potentially
keep someone alive long enough for expert help to arrive is another
way we can serve one another. Please consider being part of this
effort. You will not regret it if you are ever faced with this
terrible situation as you go about living your life.
Kay
