It hurts a lot...for a long time.
I'm sorry.

Sorry to hear about your friend but you were there.

I have had to do CPR exactly once and the outcome was the same. It was not at all like the training.

I am doing a weekend long re-cert class this weekend up in Scottsdale.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

I just got done with a CPR class for work.
They don't have you pump and blow anymore.
Just chest compressions, if done correctly it will break the cartilage.
Chest compressions alone will not restart them,it's just to keep the oxegenated blood circulating untill the jump box can be used. Which is time sensitive, about 8 minutes.

You gave it your best shot, sometimes that is all you can do.

What powermad wrote is unfortunately the case. Early CPR makes a difference, provided a defibrillator can be used within a few minutes. There are rare exceptions, but the vast majority follow this rule.
Of course you and your friends did the right thing, and I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.

I hike with a group of fellow physician retirees. A few years ago they had one of the hikers have a cardiac arrest while on the hike, but no defibrillator was available. For a while, they carried one, then stopped. "Too much trouble".

I have a friend who was incredibly lucky--had his arrest on a metro train station platform next to a 17-year-old would-be firefighter who had been trained in CPR. Police were there, defibrillator available within a couple of minutes. Taken to the only local hospital that offered hypothermic (brain-cooling) therapy. He had complete recovery, got an AICD (implanted defibrillator). Without that fortunate concurrence of positive factors, he would not have survived, or would have survived with significant brain damage.

A Phillips defibrillator costs about $1000 on Amazon; battery lasts about 4 years then can be replaced. I was instrumental in getting our local woodworking shop to install one; and donated to some local churches so they could get AED's. They need to be everywhere.

No amount of training can prepare you for the mental aspect. You did what you were supposed to do, don’t ever forget that.

As an EMT I did it several times.
Did have one save - which, for the most part, offset the several that did not survive.

Classes do not prepare you for the actual event.

PC

quote:

Originally posted by PCWyoming:
As an EMT I did it several times.
Did have one save - which, for the most part, offset the several that did not survive.

Classes do not prepare you for the actual event.

PC

This is true, when I went thru EMT course in the CG(1989), they told us if we had to do CPR to remember the person is already dead and you are working against that and the underlying issue.

I’ve done it a few times as a cop-we were dispatched with fire and ems as we were all trained. Right before I retired, I remember going to a house fire and when the hosedraggers got there they began running a line of guys doing compressions. For 1 minute we went hard with compressions, then switched, while someone bagged the homeowner. He didn’t make it, as he was inside with the smoke too long.

OP don’t dwell on it, take it for what it is, and remember your friend fondly.

My condolences; loss of a friend, while you were with them, has got to be hard. RIP.

Condolences on the loss of your friend. As an EMT-P for awhile, you did not create the situation, and you did all you could humanly do possible to make it better. Take comfort in that otherwise things will eat at you.
Spunk.

I appreciate all the kind words and advice. This is why I frequent this forum. Thanks to all.

Sorry to hear your day took a turn for the worse. I’m sorry to hear your friend passed away.

First, my thoughts are with you and all those close to this gentleman.

Second, I want to commend you for acting so quickly. There are many people trained, few who actually identify the situation and respond as fast as you. You undoubtedly have him the best chance of survival and those with you increased that chance. All to often, even with the best care, it doesn't work out as we hope.

Finally, I spent 8 years as a Firefighter/Medic in a decent sized city. I estimate I likely had around 30+ CPR saves (guessing, I didn't keep score but 3-4 a year feels right). Now if you consider that I performed CPR once a week (on average) for those 8 years that isn't a great save rate. Included in the losses are those who were initial saves, but died on the way to or at the hospital. Even with virtually instant care, and the best equipment on hand, we still lost patients. You are likely right that its probable he might not have had a strong chance of survival. The important part is you gave him every chance available. That is the entire point of CPR training so take comfort in the fact that you, and your friends all did your very best for a friend.

We all depart this world at some point, at least this gentleman was lucky enough to be surrounded by caring friends who where there for him.

I've been fortunate enough to have one save among several that didn't make it. It was a witnessed arrest while the paramedics were already on scene for a "sick person." She dropped, they got right to work, I (LE) was there to help a minute later, and she made it.

A few years later I had a medical call at the same house. When we left, the firefighters were talking about a CPR save there. Fire never responded to my call...there was a structure fire at the same time. Turns out the same lady had been resuscitated by them in another event completely.

Sorry about your friend. In the fire dept. we do have saves, however, we have many that we can't get back, no matter what we do. We go in with bag valve masks, O2, AED, NPAs, OPAs, and advanced airways. EMS usually arrives within several minutes when we do initiate or take over CPR, and they have a lot more capability than we do.

I’m sorry for your loss. My only experience with CPR was the morning I lost my father. My old EMT instructor told us years before that if you’re doing CPR, they are already gone, so anything you do can only help. She also said that if you ever need to perform it don’t worry, your training will kick in. She was correct on both points. My uncle was at the house when I found dad, he’s an ER physician. He stayed with him until he was pronounced at the hospital. At some point, it’s no longer in your hands. You do what you can, ultimately the man upstairs decides. Be proud, you had the training to give your friend the best chance he could have.
Again, my heartfelt condolences.

I've been on the job in various capacities for about 20 years now. Done CPR quite a few times. Only one person that I know of had a full and complete recovery, and I wasn't even working.

I was in a parade with my pipes and drums group and the guy driving the float behind us coded at the end. Thankfully we were able to stop the truck and get him out and start CPR and get an AED quickly.

The best chance a person has is when they get CPR immediately and an AED as fast as possible. Assuming they're in a shockable rhythm.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
I’m sorry for your loss. My only experience with CPR was the morning I lost my father. My old EMT instructor told us years before that if you’re doing CPR, they are already gone, so anything you do can only help. She also said that if you ever need to perform it don’t worry, your training will kick in. She was correct on both points. My uncle was at the house when I found dad, he’s an ER physician. He stayed with him until he was pronounced at the hospital. At some point, it’s no longer in your hands. You do what you can, ultimately the man upstairs decides. Be proud, you had the training to give your friend the best chance he could have.
Again, my heartfelt condolences.

This is great perspective and I thank you for that...as well as everyone else's thoughts and comments.

Condolences to the OP, sometimes your every effort is not satisfactory.

It appears that many SF members have had training in how to render CPR assistance. I suspect that it is a routine part of law enforcement training. But where does an ordinary individual with no agency or corporate affiliation go to get this training?

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
Condolences to the OP, sometimes your every effort is not satisfactory.

It appears that many SF members have had training in how to render CPR assistance. I suspect that it is a routine part of law enforcement training. But where does an ordinary individual with no agency or corporate affiliation go to get this training?

The local community colleges near me offer the training. Also large health services..Banner is one near me that offers it. I have also paid private contractors to maintain currency when I was flying part 91 flights and wanted to be current.

I've done it several times as an LEO. Worked once. It was actually shocking when the guy came to! He crashed again, then was revived again by EMS. He ended up making a full recovery.

My wife was at our local ALDI a few weeks ago and some lady OD'd on the frozen food aisle. She and another woman started CPR until EMS arrived. She made it, too. My 4-year-old son got to see his mom save a life... That's really cool.

Sorry for your loss. It's always really hard to hear of a friends passing, it's a whole different thing when you are there when it happens.