I remember those stats from when I took the workplace course. Contrary to what you see on TV, CPR will not revive a patient...just keep the brain alive until the zapper machine gets there.
There is only ONE exception to this rule and that is in the case of recent drowning. Basically, the body closes the windpipe to keep water out of the lungs. Once the patient falls unconcious, the muscle relaxes and opens the airway. Since the arrest was not caused by heart issues, you have a chance, albeit slim, to actually bring someone back.
One more thing we were taught...don't be worried about hurting the patient. Yes, you can break ribs etc, but the person is technically already dead. Anything you do that could raise their chances to be revived is an improvement...you can't hurt a dead person, only help!

Yea there's the good sameritan law. Basically you don't have to help. But if you DO help you can't stop helping. But if you break ribs while doing CPR, and they are revived, they can't sue you.

Of course, anyone that would sue you after you CPR them and break a couple of ribs is an ass anyways, as the CPR likely kept the blood and oxygen moving long enough for the Defib to work in the first place.

Anyways, I still thought this is a pretty scary thing and If the world does end I'll be heading for one of those locations to get the AED just in case.

An excellent topic and one that I believe should be expanded upon. In a post SHTF environment our current expectations related to healthcare and outcomes will need a complete adjustment. In NO WAY will we have the resources, knowledge or abiity to deliver current outcomes. For the most part it will be a matter of wound cleanliness, control of bleeding and with limited help from natural means allowing the body to heal itself as it may. That can be supported with good nutrition, warm and safe environment and cleanliness. The rest will be up the individual strength and the will of God (fate).

Right... basically if we want to survive we'll have to pretty much give up any attitude of entitlement we have and replace it with acceptance and determination...

Just a point that should be made is that if the individuals heart has stopped and is the patient is flat lined (asystole) defibrillation will NOT restart the heart. In laymen's terms a defibrillator stops a heart that is beating improperly by applying an electric shock. The heart then hopefully restarts and beats correctly. There are methods that can be attempted to restart a heart that has stopped beating, usually involving medication but not defibrillation. We lost a patient less than a week ago because he flat lined shortly after we arrived. CPR and a defibrillator was administer in the house, on the way to the ambulance and on the ambulance on the way to the hospital where he was declared VSA.

You are looking at a few thousand dollars for a good defibrillator.

We bought our defib for our Masonic Lodge I believe at less than 800 bucks or something. I can't remember the amount. Because of the number of seniors using our building we just thought it was prudent.

I forget the name of the unit but next time I'm there will look it up for you. We have a member who is a paramedic with the Region's Ambulance service and he was able to purchase one that way for us. It came with training as part of the package. the kicker....it must be serviced periodically...and thats where they get ya! 🙂 Its like servicing fire extinguishers, or fire alarms, etc. There will be that continual overhead of keeping the thing fit for service.

The idea of having... and using an AED is laudable. It IS a ton of money for an individual to shell out and your return on investment will be virtually nil. Plus you can't carry it with you nor will you be able to keep it serviced. To add to that is... what are you going to do IF you are actually successful in resuccitating someone? These things, just like CPR, are designed to be used with paramedic and hospital backup in place. They are a stopgap measure...not the end treatment. With over 20 years of experience as an ER Reg N. I wouldn't entertain the idea of getting one for use in a post SHTF event. Just my 2 cents

JAB

I've had to take first aid courses every two years for the past 24 years and I'm surprized by the changes in process over the years.

A bit of personal insight. For four years when I was in school I worked in a hospital in Southern Ontario as an orderly, part of that job was being on the "crash cart" team to answer code blues. This was someone on a floor who suffered a heart attack. The idea was to take them on the cart while administering CPR down to ICU where ever marvel of medical science was available to revive them, a process that should take less than three minutes if everyone pulls together properly and everything goes well. I don't suppose if you're going to have a heart attack and CPR is required there's a better set of circumstances to be in. My job as a male, since nurses wore skirts back then, was to jump up on the cart and do the chest depressions.

Of the twenty-four people I attended in this procedure; two lived, I broke both of their ribs (but in my defense) they were both elderly and frail. The odds of successfully reviving a person on the street are slim.I'm not saying it isn't worth the effort, I've done this twice, but it would be better if these courses gave a more realistic view of the statistics. Most come out of the courses considering they will save lives, when chances are they may be able to keep a minimum flow of oxygen to the brain while waiting for paramedics to arrive. I only say this because when someone doesn't make it, it can be crushing to the person that was administering the CPR. It doesn't matter how many times you are involved in that process you always want the person to live and it can be equally crushing to know that a life passed beneath your hands and you weren't able to stop that happening.

One other quick word if you're ever faced with actually performing CPR for any length of time, it's exhausting. It doesn't seem to be that physically demanding to do chest depressions - but it is. I'm not certain if that is all contributed to the actual physical effort or if the emotional effort is also a factor. It's a good thing to switch off with someonelse on the scene if that's possible.

All good advice Rogue. I have worked in ER for over 20 years and yes... the "wins" are few and far between.

A truth to a fact, that if a severe CME/EMP occures the first people to be affectected will be poeple with pace makers. After them will be any one with a bad heart that lives in high rise apartments. Haul 5 gallons of water up 5 flights of stairs and tell me how fit you feel, then imagine living on the 18 th floor. Highrise buildings did not exist before the elevator.

I hope I never have to administer CPR. But if I do, it will be with the "I'm going to save this persons life" attitude. Not the "statistically this guys dead" attitude. Otherwise why even bother taking the training.

I agree.