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June 25, 2003 - YMCA celebrates its defibrillator... |
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YMCA celebrates its defibrillator
By Bette Keva / bkeva@cnc.com
Wednesday, June 25, 2003- Marblehead Reporter
Device can restore normal heartbeat within 2-3 minutes
A person is working out in the Nautilus room of their health club. Their heart fibrillates, the first sign of a heart attack.
"Once this happens, for every minute that passes, we have about a 10-percent-less chance of survival," said Dr. Steven Kurzrok of the North Shore Heart Center at Salem Hospital.
"At five minutes, one-half will survive. At 10 minutes, less than 10 percent will survive. Getting someone back to rhythm is essential," he added. "Marblehead has good emergency services, but it still takes four to five minutes to get on scene with EMTs, another one to two minutes to locate the patient, another minute to do what you have to do. So eight to nine minutes have elapsed, even with excellent procedures in place."
He continued, "CPR and defibrillation deliver an electric shock to restore the heart rhythm. With the defibrillator and trained people, you can often deliver a shock within two to three minutes."
Kurzrok, with a dozen others from the Y, the fire and police department, North Shore Ambulance and others, was at the Marblehead YMCA last week to celebrate the installation of the AED, the automated external defibrillator that now hangs on the wall in the lobby. It has been at the Y for several months while training coordinator Mary Orne instructed Y personnel in its use.
The town is committed to installing 50 to 70 in town and private spaces, such as health clubs, the schools, the recreation center and emergency vehicles.
So far, the three yacht clubs, Tedesco Country Club and the Tower School have defibrillators. Kurzrok hopes next year at this time he'll have a long list of establishments having the device.
Another phase of the program is to stick a decal on the front door so people can see that the building contains one. The police dispatcher taking 911 calls will also be able to see which facilities have a defibrillator.
With defibrillators selling at $1,200 to $3,000, the town is showing its commitment to the initiative by funding part of the cost from the proceeds of a golf tournament to be held at the Tedesco Country Club in October.
Given all the high-impact physical activities that occur at the Y and the large number of older people that come here, "This center has a high likelihood of something happening. It's a commitment by the Y to provide high-quality first-responder care," said Jonathan Epstein, executive director of New England Emergency Medical Services.
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