Here are recent Fire Chief's columns from
The Arizona Republic
City
of Phoenix Public Information Office - News Clippings - azcentral.com
- August 1, 2009
Get Some Training to Save a Life
by Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan and Dr. Bentley Bobrow
What can you, as a non-medically trained individual, do to save the life of a family member, friend, or even a stranger in the few minutes prior to firefighters responding? In the past, many of us felt helpless when someone suddenly collapsed. But, this has changed dramatically in Arizona. Now, many of you know exactly what YOU would do if someone suddenly collapsed, and those of you who are still unsure are about to find out! You – all of you – have the ability to be a lifesaver!
According to the American Heart Association, more than 300,000 lives are lost each year due to sudden cardiac arrest. As we saw recently, this happens to the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the sick, and the healthy. In Arizona alone, sudden cardiac arrest accounts for about 5,000 lives a year, which on average is over 13 people dying each and every day! That is 13 lives yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The average age to suffer sudden cardiac arrest in Arizona is 63 years old, and many patients are just in the prime of their lives when it strikes. Families and communities are often left devastated.
The good news is that sudden cardiac arrest is the model situation where the public can make an enormous difference in life or death by being able and willing to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). “New” CPR called “Hands-Only” CPR or “Continuous Chest Compressions” CPR is safe, effective, and incredibly easy to learn, remember and perform. It is also officially recommended by the American Heart Association. This new technique can double or triple the chance of a cardiac arrest victim surviving and going home with their family. In many places, only 25%of the time a sudden cardiac arrest victim receives bystander CPR. Fortunately, because this technique has been taught to thousands of Arizonans (kids and adults), bystander CPR rates in Arizona are climbing steadily. Most importantly, we have hundreds of survivors and one of the highest survival rates of any state in the country to prove it.
One of those survivors is Gregory Stewart. A few months ago, Greg in his early 50’s, was at home with his wife and young children when they noticed he was lying on a sofa, unconscious and gasping for air. Mrs. Stewart called 9-1-1 immediately and for the first time in her life performed CPR on her pulseless, gasping husband. Sure, she was panicked and describes the event as surreal, but she just kept listening to the emergency medical dispatcher who told her to push hard and fast in the center of her husband’s chest until firefighter paramedics arrived. She did it and now the Stewart family is enjoying a beautiful (but hot) summer together.
So, what can you do when someone suddenly collapses and is breathing abnormally (either not breathing or gasping)? First, call 9-1-1 immediately. As you just read, expert Phoenix Fire Department emergency medical dispatchers will tell you exactly who to do over the phone. Make sure the victim is on a hard surface, kneel down and place one hand over the other, lock you elbows and begin pushing hard in the center of the chest at 100 times per minute. You need to push hard! Do not be afraid of causing injury as the person who just collapsed needs your hands to be their heart for the first few minutes until firefighter paramedics arrive with a defibrillator. If you are in a public place, ask if there is an automated external defibrillator (AED) and follow the simple commands. REMEMBER, YOUR HANDS ARE THEIR HEART AND NEVER STOP PUSHING ON THE CHEST!
This is a life saving skill you will have for the rest of your life to save another life. Formal training is available through the American Red Cross, the United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association, and the American Heart Association.
We hope you contact one of these agencies and become a lifesaver just like Mrs. Stewart. It will always be there if you need it. Be safe!
United Phoenix Fire Fighter Association - (602) 277-1500
American Heart Association - (602) 414-5353
American Red Cross – Arizona Chapter - (602) 336-6660
Also visit www.azshare.gov or http://www.heart.arizona.edu/publiced/lifesaver.htm to learn more.
Send comments to Bob Khan at firechief.pfd@phoenix.gov or call (602) 26-CHIEF.