Is Your School/Team/League Prepared?

Wow, thank you for posting.  I'll be forwarding that to our HS AD and principal.  

Glad she's ok.

Gov posted:

Wow, thank you for posting.  I'll be forwarding that to our HS AD and principal.  

Glad she's ok.

Gov, I think it's a very powerful message. I've probably watched that video over 10 times already. It has gone viral on the internet, that Facebook video has been seen over 6.3 million times already.

In Texas, all coaches are required to maintain CPR/AED/First Aid training. Our school employs two full-time Athletic Trainers along with a full-time school nurse. We have 11 AEDs on our campus and have over 50 staff members trained in CPR/AED/First Aid. Our goal for the 2016-2017 school year is to be at 100% trained staff. With 3 AHA instructors on staff, this goal is most definitely attainable.

Did you know the average response time for EMS across America is 13 minutes? Clearly, in the case of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, that is way too slow. That's why it is critical that schools and leagues be prepared for an emergency. 

SCA strikes an adolescent in America once ever 3 days.

Excellent post and point. It's something I will look into for sure. 

Yes, AED should be available everywhere.  Our Men's Group at our church raised money and had one installed at our church.  Fortunately it has needed to be used, but it is there.

Great video.  Ironically, I'm in Georgia (like the video) and our baseball field has an AED installed outside the concession window, so there's always access to it for practice, etc., even when concession is locked.  All coaches are trained on the use as well.

That video really makes a statement.

Bulldog,

This hit very close to home. My father in law suffered sudden cardiac arrest a few years ago. By the grace of a higher power, he happened to be with us at the time. He was supposed to be home alone. Due to training that my husband received in high school, he was able to start immediate CPR. We were in a restaurant and they did not have an AED. Luckily, the fire department was there in a matter of minutes and he received life saving AED treatment before the critical 5 minute mark. He is here today because people around him acted quickly.

I always encourage parents of athletes to look for heart screening services in your area. They can be found in many places and are usually free or low cost. They will do a routine exam and an EKG for all athletes to look for heart issues that may lead to SCA.

Also, ask your school, coaches or athletic trainer if they have AEDs and where they are located. I know during baseball season, the trainer is often moving around to different fields and may not be right there if SCA hits. The more who know the information, the better.

Thanks for posting.

Keewartson was playing in a 14U tournament at a larger complex north of our city and located in the middle of nowhere.  On the adjacent field a coach went down and it was a scramble to find 6-8 adults that could perform CPR on a rotating basis until an ambulance arrived.  Sometimes it takes something like this to get AEDs installed, which this complex did after this incident.  (The coach survived).

Next time you are at a complex, check around for an AED.  You may need to use it, and the newer ones will voice-walk you through the procedure.

Bulldog, thanks for taking the time to post this.  As Bulldog mentioned, all coaches are trained for these circumstances.  However, there is always that question as to whether they will respond.  In this case, it is apparent that the training took over.  I have used my training two times albeit not at school.  One was to save my Father in Law.  PLEASE take the time to get trained and certified.

On another note, AEDs are to be in places that are well marked and available to for use.  However, as many of us know, our ball fields are often removed from the places where they are easily accessed.   This video demonstrates the value of being able to get an AED fast.  Finally,  carry a mouth shield in my wallet for CPR.  It isn't that hard to get one.  Many times, a school nurse has one for the asking.   Something to think about. 

kandkfunk posted:

Bulldog,

This hit very close to home. My father in law suffered sudden cardiac arrest a few years ago. By the grace of a higher power, he happened to be with us at the time. He was supposed to be home alone. Due to training that my husband received in high school, he was able to start immediate CPR. We were in a restaurant and they did not have an AED. Luckily, the fire department was there in a matter of minutes and he received life saving AED treatment before the critical 5 minute mark. He is here today because people around him acted quickly.

I always encourage parents of athletes to look for heart screening services in your area. They can be found in many places and are usually free or low cost. They will do a routine exam and an EKG for all athletes to look for heart issues that may lead to SCA.

Also, ask your school, coaches or athletic trainer if they have AEDs and where they are located. I know during baseball season, the trainer is often moving around to different fields and may not be right there if SCA hits. The more who know the information, the better.

Thanks for posting.

We are looking into a program right now that would provide EKG, echocardiogram, and a carotid artery ultrasound, nearly free of charge! We are hoping it gets approved, because I don't want to have something happen and think about "could we have caught that?"

Also, I have attached a blog post I wrote last spring about our AEDs on our campus..

http://ksi.uconn.edu/2015/04/0...rnal-defibrillators/

269 seconds. That's the time it took for the CPR and the AED to do its job. 269 seconds from the time Claire collapsed until she woke up. An amazing story, read the teacher's account here!

http://www.dedicatedtoallbetter.org/5035-2/

Want to know how the Lord was watching over her that day? Just 24 hours earlier her volleyball team was playing an away game at a school whose AED contained dead batteries. Had she collapsed just 24 hours earlier, she'd be dead. 

Thank you.  I am so glad to know she survived.