Be Prepared for a Cardiac Emergency
March 1, 2007 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
A former classmate of mine at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health was in an airport when he saw someone suddenly collapse. Since he was a doctor, my friend raced over and bent over the middle-aged man flat on his back on the floor in the middle of the crowded airport.
“Don’t worry, I’m a doctor,” my friend said.
“Yes, so am I!” the man replied.
Clearly, they two of them couldn’t have been better prepared for a cardiac emergency. I’m not sure most of us could say the same.
If you can remember the Chain of Survival, you may be able to save the life of someone who’s experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Someone like football player Damien Nash or basketball player Dennis Johnson.
- When you suspect that someone’s had a sudden cardiac arrest, call 911 (999, 119) immediately.
- Prompt CPR (although CPR alone cannot resuscitate a person).
- Early defibrillation using an automated external defibrillator (AED) – the key to survival.
- Advanced medical care – trained EMS personnel and immediate transport to the hospital.*
Commit the Chain of Survival to memory and you may be the new hero in town.
NB: The b5media Science and Health Channel prepares you for the full range of emergencies. Visit Tris at Homely Scientist for the round-up.
*If you’re lucky, you’ll meet a wonderful critical care nurse like Kendra James, our new writer at Diabetes Notes.
Tags: heart, heart disease, cardiac arrest, chain of survival, cardiovascular disease, diseases, illness, health, medicine
