Hands and Head to Save a Heart

I was at a funeral once and somebody died. Unfortunately, it wasn’t only the person for whom the funeral was being held.  At the reception, somebody sitting behind me collapsed.  Her husband was attending to her, but it seemed like those of us sitting a table away were in slow motion.  I suppose we didn’t react quickly because people close to her were with her. Sometimes you want to give people privacy and not cause a scene.  As it looked like things were not improving, I asked the people I was with, “Should I go find a nurse?”  I suppose it just a few minutes, but when I asked the question, someone from my table jumped up and said, “Oh, I’m an EMT.”

It still seems strange to me that it took so long for us to react, even someone trained.  Had it been a cardiac arrest, even seconds count.  Starting chest compressions immediately can make all the difference.  Earlier this month, I was with 4-H members who received “hands only” CPR training.  The training video showed a man collapsing in a shopping mall and no one reacting.  I watched the video thinking that it was so unrealistic.  Surely someone would come to the rescue in such a situation, and then I remembered about the funeral. 

Kevin Lauer, who was teaching the class from Gallatin HeartRescue, gave some pretty amazing statistics.  According to their Facebook page, “The Gallatin Heart Rescue is a collaborative project focused on improving bystander CPR response to out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests.”  They have looked at locations where bystander or hands only CPR has been taught to a high percentage of residents and the cardiac survival rates are very impressive. In the Seattle area, 70% of residents have been taught bystander CPR and the survival rates for a cardiac arrest are above 50%; whereas, the rate is closer to 8% survival where the population has been less saturated with learning hands-only CPR.  Nationally, 92% of those who suffer sudden cardiac arrest die before they reach the hospital.

Since 2012, Gallatin Heart Rescue has been on a mission to improve the concentration of people who know bystander CPR and who will react quickly and confidently when someone needs help.  This week they reached a milestone of 25,000 people trained.  The survival rates in the Gallatin area have risen as the number trained to perform hands-only/bystander CPR has risen.  The program has been so successful that there is now a Montana Heart Rescue program.

They have some pretty dramatic video footage of survivors and their families.  One young girl, Annie age 9, whose father was a fit man in his forties, said, “My father had sudden cardiac arrest right after a very hard work out.  Luckily someone at his gym knew CPR.  That man save my dad’s life. My dad lives, but without CPR he would not be at the dinner table tonight.”  She makes a plea for people to take 30-45 minutes to learn hands-only CPR, because it may give someone years of their life. 

Locally, our Emergency Medical Services department also knows the benefit of training.  

In Teton County, staff at three major employers are trained yearly, as well as all of the local guest ranches.  All school bus drivers are trained yearly, as well as several school staff members.  Heart Saver classes are offered to the public every few months.  In Teton County, to receive training in CPR and First Aid, contact Deb Coverdell, Teton County Emergency Medical Services at 466-5552.

Success begins with bystanders knowing what to do and acting quickly. It is important to know how to call 911, how to start chest compressions and how to find and use an AED, automated external defibrillator. Take a few minutes to watch these two videos.  If we all do our part, people who collapse from sudden cardiac arrest can head back to the rest of their lives, instead of to their funeral.