Twenty-seven people who survived near-death cardiac events in 2017 have a new lease on life.
Delaware Public Media’s Kelli Steele has more about a recent effort to connect them with those who helped them survive.
In each case, the survivors are here today thanks to the combined efforts of first responders, 911 dispatchers and ordinary citizens who worked together, when seconds counted, to save them.
And Sussex County EMS public information officer Glenn Marshall says earlier this month, the Sussex County Phoenix Club held its awards ceremony in Laurel to recognize both those who survived and the men and women who helped them.
"It means for the community that we are becoming a better place to survive cardiac arrest. And that’s two-fold - education to the public has improved as far as regarding hands-only CPR and application to AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) locations out in the public venue. There’s also apps out there, Pulse Point, that will notify somebody if there’s a cardiac arrest within a half mile radius, which is really beneficial," said Marshall.
Jim Gijanto is the chairman of the Phoenix Club of Sussex County. He says it’s very important to bring the cardiac survivors together with the person or people who saved their life.
“It kind of lifts the spirits of all providers and survivors,” Gijanto said.
This year’s Phoenix Awards Ceremony recognized those who participated in what the American Heart Association calls the “Chain of Survival” for a victim of cardiac arrest. This includes early notification by 911 dispatchers with instructions on how to perform CPR, early CPR and early use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), followed by early advanced care and transport to a cardiac care facility.
Each year, nearly 420,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. - situations where bystanders and emergency responders face the daunting task of trying to save those individuals from dying.
