AEDs save lives when seconds count

AEDs save lives when seconds count

It happens all too often: Someone in need of medical attention, whether it be cardiac arrest or CPR, and time is of the essence. But recently in Williamson County, a man’s life was saved by someone who stepped up.

Ordinary heroes doing extraordinary things – that’s exactly what happened Aug. 26 in Brentwood.

“He went into cardiac arrest while playing pickleball,” said Lt. Scott Barnes with Brentwood Fire and Rescue. “Two other people that were playing with him ran to his aid and started CPR. They went and got an AED, they quickly charged it and defibrillated him. And by the time our crew showed up, he was awake.”

Their quick-thinking undoubtedly saved his life. “Usually, the first four minutes after a cardiac arrest is the time of action for bystanders. You want to do hard and fast compressions Go, get the AED there, apply the AED,” said Lt. Barnes. “That first four minutes is really vital that gives us time to arrive as well, but that’s the best chance of survival for that victim.”

In the event of a cardiac arrest, a person’s survival rate goes down 10% with each passing minute. “After four minutes of not doing CPR or not defibrillating a patient, your chance of survival may be 60% and that’s all based on other factors, based On your age, based on all kinds of things. So seconds are always important,” explained Lt. Barnes.

Brentwood Fire and Rescue crews were there within four minutes to take over and the man recovered.

Then in September, a similar incident where a man working out went into cardiac arrest. “The people working out around him quickly went into action and they started compressions. The YMCA staff brought the AED and they shocked him. Once he got a pulse back, he was taken to hospital. He’s recovering and doing great,” said Lt Barnes.

Instances like these are proof that early intervention is key and anyone can use a defibrillator and perform CPR. “Using an automated external defibrillator is a lay-person skill. You do not have to have a certification to use it. We teach lay people the use of AEDs all the time, but the most important thing about an AED is turning it on. And then once you turn it on, do exactly as the AED tells you to, because it talks to you. It tells you everything to do, and you just follow, follow that and do your compressions when it says to defibrillate,” said Lt. Barnes.

Knowledge is power and Lt. Barnes said taking time to learn how to help someone is important and incredible simple. He teaches a class every Friday at the Brentwood Public Library. “When I hear about bystanders doing the job that we need them to do, to save as many lives as we can, because that’s kind of our job here. It makes it it does make me feel like a proud dad.”