So one of my side hobbies is being a member of a firefighters bagpipes and drums group. Our main goal is to play firefighter line of duty death funerals but we also do many charity and public events as well. One of which was a 4th of July parade yesterday. The parade ended in a field behind a school where all of the residents and people in the parade were congregating. We had just finished and were standing there chatting when I heard a woman yelling to the semi driver who was pulling a lowboy trailer carrying a float full of kids, because he had missed the spot where he was supposed to park. Thinking he couldn't hear her over the engine I started walking towards the truck to get his attention, I then realized that his head was on the steering wheel. Myself and a few other band members managed to get the truck stopped and dragged him out in full cardiac arrest. After performing CPR on him for 5 minutes or so somebody was able to get their hands on an AED and we shocked him twice, shortly after the second one he came around and was talking to us and was aware of where he was.

I'm not posting this for praise or anything like that, we just happened to be the ones standing there; but because this is the first person I've ever had come back from a cardiac arrest in all of my years in public safety. It didn't matter that it was us, it just matters that CPR was started immediately and that we were able to get our hands on an AED quickly. Any layperson with CPR training could have and would have had the same results.

So, if you aren't certified already, do yourself a favor and go take a CPR class because it makes all the difference in a situation like this.

On a side note, as someone who can't even drive a standard sedan; trying to get an 18 wheeler stopped while its rolling away is scary as hell haha.

Great advice and you deserve praise for quick action and saving this person's life. Well done!!

Well done to you and the other band members!

Regarding CPR, in your experience, has anyone ever "come back" from cardiac arrest with CPR alone or is more of a holding pattern technique until a defibrillator can be used?

Defibrillation is usually the definitive treatment, especially if the person is experiencing ventricular fibrillation.

CPR helps keep the brain and vital organs oxygenated in the meantime. Which is why starting it as soon as possible after the start of an arrest is so important.

Good for you and your band members.
In all my years I had one or two people come back to life from doing CPR. This was long before AED were even around.
The only ones other than hospitals having defibrillators were Paramedics.
Another thing people should know how to do is the Heimlich maneuver and how to clear the air way of a choking child.

quote:

Originally posted by 71 TRUCK:
Another thing people should know how to do is the Heimlich maneuver and how to clear the air way of a choking child.

Agreed. I think a lot of CPR classes incorporate that now too.

Being a south Florida LEO with our large elderly population I have done CPR too many times to remember. I do remember a few that got heartbeats back but only remember two that actually survived and lived for quite a while (over a year). Definitely recommend everybody learn and especially your loved ones in case someday you are in need of it.

A

B

C



Airway

Breathing

Circulation

First Aid training and keeping it current are things we all should do.

I'm not a first responder or anything of the sort. Just a regular person with first aid training.

A couple of years ago a coworker suffered a stroke. I did the quick triage and then the FAST test. I called 911 and the fire fighter/paramedics arrived in 5 mins (returning from a call) and had her in the ER 20 mins max from when I called.

They said I likely saved her life and the ER staff said the same thing. I don't feel I did anything special except happened to be there and had some training.

She's alive and doing well with residual effects.

Get training and keep it current. It saves lives.

No praise? You saved a person's life. Great job - and stopping a semi. You sincerely deserve the praise.

Very few can say they did what you did, with the training and SI to get it done.