The Importance of CPR and AED's

Raena Morgan: Dr. Thompson, we have talked about being prepared, and that you can look around in a situation where someone is having a heart attack and there might be, very likely might be, a defibrillator. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: Right. Raena Morgan: I said that defibrillator. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: Defibrillator -- you did. Raena Morgan: And, it's important, isn't it? Dr. Owen R. Thompson Oh! it's literally life-saving. A lot of people learn CPR and it's wonderful. Don't get me wrong, it's an extremely important thing. I think, most high schools and colleges, now a lot of people in their workplace have CPR classes, and I encourage people to learn CPR. I'm a CPR survivor, as you well know, and it's a wonderful thing. But out in the community, away from the hospital, away from the ambulance personnel, the chances of surviving CPR are 1 in 20. So, 5% of people survive, if they have a sudden cardiac death that survives CPR. And most die, because of an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. To combat that -- Raena Morgan: Yes, I want to know about it. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: We have these nifty, little devices called AEDs, or Automatic Electronic Defibrillators. These are amazing little machines. The computer age, this is kind of the high-tech computer defibrillator. Initially, these were put in clinics and in ambulances; then they went into fire trucks and police cars. Now they are -- we want these to be everywhere -- places of business, community centers, the churches, gymnasiums, anywhere where people gather. These are automated, computerized little machines that basically -- there are various types and it tells you in about 6th or 5th grade terms what to do. Raena Morgan: So, it's user-friendly. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: It's very user-friendly. The instructions are very clear. This particular model you can push a button and a computer voice will walk you through what to do. But basically they're all about the same. They come apart; the lid comes off. There is a set of pads that are hooked to the machine by wires and there is two of them, and it shows you on the pads where to put them on the person's chest. So, while you're doing CPR, you stop for a second or even before you start CPR, if you think someone maybe having a heart attack. If there's an AED anywhere, get it to the person and put the pads on them. And then, it will tell you, it'll start analyzing the rhythm, and it won't shock the person unless they have ventricular fibrillation, which is a deadly arrhythmia. There'll be a voice prompt to stay clear of the body, or the person's body, not the body yet and it'll deliver a shock. And with this, the chances of surviving CPR are many-fold greater. In some communities that have bystander CPR and AEDs, 50 to 70% of individuals will survive CPR in those communities as compared to 5%. So, these are amazing. Raena Morgan: They are. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: This particular model has a lithium battery in it. You put it on the shelf; it'll stay active for five years. Raena Morgan: Five years. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: You don't have to plug it in. You don't have to recharge it. It'll tell itself. It'll test the battery itself. It'll test the unit itself. And for the other thing, for the public, there is no liability with these. All the liability is in the machine. You can't do anything wrong. It's not like you can get sued by putting this on somebody. If it shocks somebody, it's the manufacturer's liability and not yours. But this machine will not save one single person, if an individual doesn't go get it and put it on the person. So, there have been people die in buildings where these units were steps away and nobody went to get it because nobody knew it was there. So, if you get them in your business, in your community center, mark them, tell people that you have them. And if someone is having trouble, go get the AED and put it on them. It'll literally be life-saving for them, if they have sudden cardiac death. Raena Morgan: So, it's crucial to let people know where they are. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: Correct. Raena Morgan: And, let them know that they are user-friendly. Dr. Owen R. Thompson: Right. They're very user-friendly. Most companies that have them, if people have CPR classes or OSHA meetings, in just a few minutes you can have this update. There also is an organization, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, that will provide speakers to come out and talk to you about these machines and help people get them where they need to be. Raena Morgan: We're making strides, aren't we? Dr. Owen R. Thompson: Yes, we are. So look into this; it's very important. Raena Morgan: We'll do. Thank you.