[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Now I think you're asking the right questions. I believe that there has been some misunderstanding all along about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA is an electrical problem that causes the heart to go into ventricular fibrillation. A heart attack is more of a "plumbing" issue. Sometimes, a heart attack can cause SCA. People who have heart disease are at a higher risk for SCA, but SCA often strikes people with no risk factors and who are healthy.

Some causes of SCA are congestive heart failure, aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, infections, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, Marfan syndrome and other structural problems, pulmonary embolism, blood clots due to surgery, prolonged immobilization like long car trips, plane trips, hospitalization, trauma, or certain diseases like cancer. Also, potassium and calcium imbalances. Also, trauma to the chest like getting hit with a golf ball or softball.

Thanks for the explanation, but now it leads to more questions: I have an idea that some of the above may be very rare and some may not benefit from a jolt of electricity. And it confuses the issue of what is lifestyle related and what's not. And it seems that many of the causes are due to blood clots. What happens to a blood clot when you give the person a jolt of electricity?

What does a jolt of electricity do for congestive heart failure?

You did mention potassium and calcium imbalances and I'm glad you did. I think if people ate a well balanced healthy diet and were not overweight a lot of the above problems would not exist. I don't think anyone should be getting blood clots due to surgery, prolonged sitting, hospitalization etc. unless their lifestyle caused their arteries to become inflammed and clogged.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by Suzi

To my knowledge, no one lives forever - regardless if you are a vegetarian or not.

And no one lives forever regardless of whether or not they have access to an AED.

If they survive or not is up to a higher power - let him sort it out.

It used to be when a person became lifeless due to "God's intervention," that was the final word. It was said to be "God's will." But now days, God doesn't always get the last word. With the help of technology, man gets to decide if you should live or die. (Sometimes we say "rest in peace" and then there are times when we apply a strong jolt of electricity.)

In the Sunday Daily Sun newspaper, there was a story of a woman who "saw bright yellow and orange colors, and then nothing." In an instant she collapsed and became lifeless. God decided to give her the gift of a "perfect death." How could dying be any better than that? It was at the end of her "knitting club" meeting, she enjoyed the friendship of those around her, she had no forewarning and no pain. But God doesn't always get the last word.

So here are a couple of questions I have:

1) When a person becomes lifeless due to "God's intervention", do they get brought back to life out of compassion or selfishness? A lifeless body has no knowledge of ever having been alive; no regrets, no desires and no "wanting to come back."

It may be that the sight of death reminds us of our own mortality and makes us fearful. Therefore, bringing the person back makes us feel better (selfishness). How can it be compassion if the person has no knowledge of their lifeless condition?

2) Isn't it bad enough that we have to die once? Will technology now have us die multiple times? And isn't it possible that the next time may not be so easy?

I'm not telling anyone what to do, I'm just providing some food for thought.

[pooh]

Oh, but God does get the last word. It wasn't her time to go and she was in the company of people who helped with His plan....be there, with an AED to help revive her. It's all a matter of perspective...

[Happydaz]

I believe heart problems can show up as confused thinking. People sometimes ramble on and on. The more words a person needs to use the less likely what you are hearing has any truth to it. My wife and I are thinking of suggesting an AED program for our neighborhood. I would also like to learn CPR myself and learn how to use an AED.

[HMLRHT1]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Maybe I'm not understanding this but I think percentages can be misleading. How much of that success is due to neighboorhood AEDs? How would anyone be able to know that? I vaguely remember calling someone to inquire about this a long time ago. And I was told that much of the survival rate is due to factors other than neighborhood AEDs. I think it had something to do with medications being administered in the ambulance rather than waiting to get to the ER doctor.

If you ask any Dr in the ER or Cardiologist they will tell you that a persons "chance" of survival increases immensely if CPR is started right away. Adding an AED increases it more. But it depends on what is going on with the patient. Not all cardiac arrests survive. But they have a better chance. Read the American Heart Assoc. literature and it goes into more details. Yes, meds do help but if the patient is not profused for the 3-5 mins or longer it takes EMS to get there then all the meds in the world won't help. That is why there is such a huge gap between the national average and The Villages. There are other towns and localities in the country that also do the same thing as here. AED and CPR volunteers in The Villages works. How would anyone know if AED's and CPR volunteers work? Ask someone who survived! It only takes one!

[Ragman]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

I totally agree, I just won't be chipping in for an AED if it comes to my neighborhood.

I would think you would do it for your less virtuous and judgmental friends.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Ragman

I would think you would do it for your less virtuous and judgmental friends.

Or for the fact that you just value human life, period. Which I think you do, VPL. Sometimes there are trade-offs where our value judgements are concerned. To me this one is not all black or white.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

I believe heart problems can show up as confused thinking. People sometimes ramble on and on. The more words a person needs to use the less likely what you are hearing has any truth to it. My wife and I are thinking of suggesting an AED program for our neighborhood. I would also like to learn CPR myself and learn how to use an AED.

And yet some people say very little and still make no sense.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by Ragman

I would think you would do it for your less virtuous and judgmental friends.

If they would charge each resident on a sliding scale, based on how likely the person is to need CPR, I might consider it.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

If they would charge each resident on a sliding scale, based on how likely the person is to need CPR, I might consider it.

Dear Man.


Sometimes accidents happen such as electric shock or a blow somehow to the chest that can cause a heart to lose it's rhythm and stop.


When I was asked by a kindergarten child, Why do people die, I would answer because they get very sick or very old or meet with an accident.


We can by virtuous living prolong our lives, but sometimes nasty germs or errant things can get in the way of our plans for a long life.


Enjoy this day, or as Quirky3 says, Carpe the heck outa your Diem.


Not just you VPL. EVERYBODY.


If we can't change our children's minds on things, it is unlikely we will with strangers.

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

And yet some people say very little and still make no sense.

So I see.

[Bryant]

Is there a listing of where neighborhood difibulators are located. I have been here 10 yrs and never heard a mention of it.

[Ragman]

Originally Posted by Bryant

Is there a listing of where neighborhood difibulators are located. I have been here 10 yrs and never heard a mention of it.

They are located in village recreation centers and other public areas. I sure a list exists.

Those in participating neighborhoods are known to the local residents. You can sometimes see them by the street and they are usually locked except for the neighborhood volunteers.

[getdul981]

VPL should have a Medic Alert bracelet that says DNR, since he feels that AEDs are unnecessary. I would hate to think that I had wasted my time doing CPR on someone that didn't want it. Just think, I might be sued for saving someone's life.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Bryant

Is there a listing of where neighborhood defibrillators are located. I have been here 10 yrs and never heard a mention of it.

Good question. Bogie - can you provide a link for us?