July

Automated External Defibrillators (AED) Introduction

Although advances in emergency cardiac care continue to improve the chances of surviving cardiac arrest, cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in many parts of the world.

Each year, almost 350,000 Americans die from heart disease. Half of these will die suddenly, outside of the hospital, because their heart stops beating. Most of these deaths occur with little or no warning, from a syndrome called sudden cardiac arrest. The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a disturbance in the heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation.

Ventricular fibrillation is dangerous because it cuts off blood supply to the brain and other vital organs.

The ventricles are the chambers that pump blood out of the heart and into the blood vessels. This blood supplies oxygen and other nutrients to organs, cells, and other structures.

If these structures do not receive enough blood, they start to shut down, or fail.

If blood flow is not restored immediately, permanent brain damage or death is the result.

Ventricular fibrillation often can be treated successfully by applying an electric shock to the chest with a procedure called defibrillation.

In coronary care units, most people who experience ventricular fibrillation survive, because defibrillation is performed almost immediately.

The situation is just the opposite when cardiac arrest occurs outside a hospital setting. Unless defibrillation can be performed within the first few minutes after the onset of ventricular fibrillation, the chances for reviving the person (resuscitation) are very poor.

For every minute that goes by that a person remains in ventricular fibrillation and defibrillation is not provided, the chances of resuscitation drop by almost 10 percent. After 10 minutes, the chances of resuscitating a victim of cardiac arrest are near zero.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, usually known as CPR, provides temporary artificial breathing and circulation.

It can deliver a limited amount of blood and oxygen to the brain until a defibrillator becomes available.

However, defibrillation is the only effective way to resuscitate a victim of ventricular fibrillation.

Chain of Survival

CPR is one link in what the American Heart Association calls the "chain of survival." The chain of survival is a series of actions that, when performed in sequence, will give a person having a heart attack the greatest chance of survival.

The first link in the chain of survival is immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system by calling 911 (check your community plan, some communities require dialing a different number).

The next link in the chain of survival is to perform early CPR, with an emphasis on chest compressions until a defibrillator becomes available.

Following early CPR, the next link is to provide rapid defibrillation. In many areas of the country, simple, computerized defibrillators, known as automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, may be available for use by the lay public or first person on the scene.

Once the EMS unit arrives, the next link in the chain of survival is effective advanced life support care. This involves administering medications, using special breathing devices, and providing additional defibrillation shocks if needed.

Medical Author: Joseph Sciammarella, MD, FACP, FACEP

Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

June 2014

      Winter Weather Slip, Trip and Fall Safety Reminders

•Use handrails. Once inside, wipe your feet on runway rugs (where provided) to decrease the amount of snow and snow removal materials tracked into the facility, thus reducing the potential for slips and falls.

•Avoid distractions; do not talk on the phone or text while you are walking.

•Use gloves; avoid walking with your hands in your pockets so you can maintain better balance.

•Modify the length and speed of your stride as necessary and watch where you step.

•Take care to support yourself when exiting vehicles with high clearances and vehicles equipped with running boards.

•Use cleared sidewalks. Avoid taking shortcuts across untreated surfaces.

•Be sure to wear footwear with good traction. High heels, smooth-soled shoes and shoes with worn soles are not recommended on snow and ice.

•When walking on ice and snow, go slowly. Take short, deliberate steps and keep your body centered over your feet.

•Anticipate hazards as you are walking. When you come to a corner or change in surface, slow down. If you think a surface might be slippery, take short sure steps instead of longer strides.

•Be aware of melt/refreeze issues caused by elevated temperatures or sunny conditions during the day and sub-freezing temperatures at night

January 2014

A winter emergency can happen at any time. To ensure that you and your loved ones are safe, be prepared. Keep several days’ worth of the following items aside.
Foods that need no cooking or refrigeration

•   Bread
  
•   Crackers
  
•   Cereal
  
•   Canned food
  
•   Dried fruits and nuts
  
•   Baby food – if you have young children
  Water
  It’s possible, in a winter emergency that pipes may freeze or rupture. Keep water stored, either in clean containers or purchased from the store. Keep 5 gallons per person stored.
  Medicines
  Keep a stock of necessary medications available for family members. Even in the winter some medications have to be refrigerated. Be sure you have a small cooler for those items.
  Emergency Supply Kit
  

•   Alternate way to heat your home during a power failure
  - dry firewood for a fireplace or wood stove
  - kerosene for kerosene heater
  - portable generator (NOTE: often used in rural areas, but they come with their own set of cautions)
  
•   Furnace fuel – coal, propane, oil
  
•   Gas powered space heater with automatic shut-off switch and non-
  glowing elements (NOTE: if power is off, won’t be able to use electric
  heater, but if you do, it also comes with its own set of cautions...)
  
•   Blankets
  
•   Matches
  
•   Multipurpose, dry chemical fire extinguisher
  
•   First aid kit
  
•   Flashlight or battery powered lantern
  
•   Battery-powered radio and/or crank emergency radio
  
•   Battery-powered clock or watch
  
•   Extra batteries
  
•   Non-electric can opener
  
•   Snow shovel
  
•   Rock salt
  
•   Special needs items – diapers, hearing aid batteries, medications, etc.)
  Adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety. 
  

NOVEMBER 2013

 

Having the right personal protective equipment is important  but it is only part of good risk management



• “Concern for man himself and his safety must always for the chief interest of all technical endeavors.” -Albert Einstein
• “Anyone who believes that they have common sense has simply forgotten who taught them what they know.” – Alan Quilley
• “A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” Proverbs 22:3
• “What is now proven was once only imagined.” Hindsight is a wonderful thing but foresight is better, especially when it comes to saving life, or some pain! – William Blake

Squadron Safety Coming Soon!