Gear Guide
By Renier Hattingh Emergencies happen when we least expect them to
Wouldn’t it be best to know what can be done when a family member or colleague suddenly collapses, has no signs of life and is not breathing? You would like to know that they had the best chance of survival… this is now possible!
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tatistics from the Medical Research Council of SA reveal that there are approximately 120 heart
atacks reported a day in South Africa… that equates to one every 12 minutes… with a terrifying outcome – a quarter of these result in death!
According to Te Heart
Foundation of South Africa, by 2020, heart disease is predicted to be the number one cause of death in our country. What’s more, one in three men and one in four women will suffer from heart disease before they reach the age of 60. Many countries around the
world have realised the importance of creating greater public awareness
of how to handle an emergency. Developing Public Access Defibrillation programmes have saved many lives worldwide, and this is now possible in South Africa. Most of us think that
only a trained professional can shock a person back to life. Te development of a new, effective device called an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) has given any trained layperson the power to save a life. An AED is a small, portable, lightweight and easy to use device, that if used within 30 seconds of collapse, successfully restores a pulse in most heart atack patients. An AED is easy to use and
will only shock a heart that needs it. When a person dies, the electrical impulses in the heart oſten become
chaotic, causing an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. When this happens the heart is unable to pump blood. Te only treatment for this is immediate defibrillation, thus ‘shocking’ a dead person back to life. For every minute of delay, the chance of survival drops by 10% if a victim is not defibrillated. Emergency Medical Services may face numerous delays in arriving at an emergency, yet you can now make the difference by being near an Automated External Defibrillator. AEDs should be found in
many places: aircraſt and airports, amusement parks, business complexes, casinos, commuter terminals, convention halls, cruise ships, golf courses, health clubs
and spas, hotels, industrial and manufacturing facilities, office complexes, shopping areas and sports venues. You, your family, staff and
clients will now feel safer wherever a nationally endorsed AED sign is seen. You will now know that the area is ‘AED Equipped’ and those entering that specific place are in a ‘Heart-Save Area’. Public Access Defibrillation is endorsed by the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa, a voluntary coordinating body that promotes the practice and teaching of life-saving skills. Te Council represents over 300 affiliated member organisations that support the development of international protocols and standards for life saving techniques.
September/October 2011
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