Medical Emergency
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Submitted by Chuck Jaeger
Medical emergency, Using CPR & AED for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen anytime, anywhere but steps can be taken to restore the victim back to life! Timely response to restore heart function and breathing is critical. For each minute that passes without restoring heart function and breathing reduces the odds of reviving the victim by 10%. In about 10 minutes of time the victim is almost certain to remain biologically dead.
Each month the Villages Department Public Safety (352-205-8280) offers -2+ hours of training on use of Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) to restore heart function and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to manually assist blood flow and breathing. Please attend and learn to help save lives.
If SCA occurs at home
If the SCA occurs at Laurel Manor
Overview of the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator)
An AED is really a battery powered talking computer that can analyze heart conditions and shock malfunctioning hearts back into service. To use the AED follow these key steps.
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Submitted by Chuck Jaeger
Medical emergency, Using CPR & AED for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen anytime, anywhere but steps can be taken to restore the victim back to life! Timely response to restore heart function and breathing is critical. For each minute that passes without restoring heart function and breathing reduces the odds of reviving the victim by 10%. In about 10 minutes of time the victim is almost certain to remain biologically dead.
Each month the Villages Department Public Safety (352-205-8280) offers -2+ hours of training on use of Automatic External Defibrillation (AED) to restore heart function and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to manually assist blood flow and breathing. Please attend and learn to help save lives.
If SCA occurs at home
- If the victim passes out and is not breathing for 10 seconds it is best to dial 911 for help on the land based phone line into your home. In the 3 counties surrounding The Villages all 911 calls going into the regional centers computer system will immediately display the Name, Address and Location of the land phone line. If you call on a cell phone you will be forced to waste time giving details of your precise location.
- Immediately turn on lights in the front of your home and leave your front door wide open to let the Medics in ASAP. When your 911 help arrives and if the door is locked, they will kick in the door!
- Return to the victim, position them on their back on the floor and begin CPR (described below) until the emergency workers arrive.
If the SCA occurs at Laurel Manor
- If the victim passes out and is not breathing for 10 seconds have 911 dialed from the land phone line at Laurel Manor’s front desk reception center. Call for emergency help and then grab the AED (described below) from its wall box located 4 feet off the floor just to the right of the reception desk and return to the victim.
- Another person should have already started CPR on the victim while the 911 call is being placed. When the AED arrives, turn the machine on and follow the verbal prompts to deliver the first shock. Immediately after the first shock CPR for 2 minutes before further AED analysis and or shock.
- Continue CPR (described below) until the emergency workers arrive.
Overview of the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator)
An AED is really a battery powered talking computer that can analyze heart conditions and shock malfunctioning hearts back into service. To use the AED follow these key steps.
- Remove the shirt/blouse/bra/underwear from the front of the victim to provide bare skin contact with the 2 sensors
- Apply the 2 sensors to the bare skin of the victim according to the carton drawing shown on each sensor.
- Turn on the AED with the green button and let it do the diagnosis. It will give you voice instructions whether to shock or not. No one should be touching the victim during the diagnosis stage to avoid creating false vital signs from a bystander.
- If the AED tells you to shock it will first say “All Clear”. All stand back with no one touching the victim and then shock them by pushing the red button.
- After 2 minutes of CPR redo the diagnosis with the AED then repeat steps 4 and 5