CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) save man's life in Hamilton

HAMILTON, ON, July 26, 2012 /CNW/ - July 25, 2012 - Once again, AEDs and CPR have proven their worth as a Hamilton man is alive today thanks to the quick actions of members of the public and police officers.

On Sunday, July 22, a Hamilton-area man started experiencing chest pains. His wife drove him to a local hospital but on the way, she stopped at a local police station for help where the man collapsed upon entering.

Bystanders immediately started CPR and officers on duty at the East End Police Station in Hamilton retrieved the AED on site and shocked the man's heart following voice-prompters. Paramedics arrived and continued care while transporting the man to hospital where he is currently in stable condition.

This weekend's save is the 41st in Ontario by an AED placed by the Foundation since 2006, and highlights the fact that with simple training in CPR and the availability of an AED to perform immediate defibrillation, anyone can save a life.

"This life saved is a testament to what happens when community members learn CPR and use an AED when it is within reach," said Andrew Lotto, Manager, Resuscitation Programs, Heart and Stroke Foundation. "With continued support of the public, community groups and funding partners, one day AEDs will be as commonplace as fire extinguishers in Ontario to save lives."

The placement of the AED at the East End Police Station and training of staff was made possible through funds raised by Hockey for Heart as well as the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Restart a Heart, a Life Program™, the Chase McEachern Tribute Fund and the Hamilton EMS Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program.

When a person is in cardiac arrest, seconds count. When CPR is combined with the use of an AED in those early minutes, an individual's chance of surviving a cardiac arrest increases to up to 75 per cent. Without CPR and defibrillation, fewer than five per cent of people who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.

"The statistics tell a compelling story," added Lotto. "CPR and AEDs absolutely save lives, and Ontarians can join the Heart and Stroke Foundation's efforts to boost survival rates by using these simple and effective tools if someone nearby suffers cardiac arrest." 

The new CPR guidelines announced on October 2010 stress the early recognition of cardiac arrest urging people to call 9-1-1 or their local emergency number if they find someone collapsed and unresponsive, and not to delay by 'looking, listening and feeling' for breathing or pulse.

The guidelines also recommend that instead of trying to remember how many compressions and how many breaths, bystanders doing CPR simply "push hard and push fast" on the centre of the chest.

The Foundation recommends that all Canadians learn the life-saving skills of CPR and review this knowledge often. Learning and reviewing CPR skills has been made much easier with an at-home video kit, the Heart and Stroke CPR Anytime^TM for Family and Friends^TM. The kit teaches the basic skills of CPR in as little as 22 minutes. Visit http://www.cpranytime.ca to order yours today!

The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy. (heartandstroke.ca)

SOURCE: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario

Reena Kudhail
Communications Specialist, Resuscitation Programs
Heart and Stroke Foundation
416-489-7111 ext. 736
[email protected]