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May 17, 2004 Purdue Research Foundation begins lifesaving defibrillation programWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) clients and visitors have a better chance of surviving a cardiac arrest thanks to a program that gives PRF volunteers quick access to computerized medical equipment. As part of a public access defibrillation program, PRF volunteers were trained to recognize a cardiac emergency and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to shock the heart into a regular rhythm. The foundation, which is the entity that administers the Purdue Research Park, installed two AED devices in May at the park's flagship business incubator, the Purdue Technology Center. "We want to be sure we can effectively respond to any medical emergency that happens on our property," said Judith Hall, PRF's director of human resources. Every year about 250,000 people suffer cardiac arrest and only about 5 percent of them survive. Cardiac arrest is a condition in which abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, cause the heart's electrical impulses to suddenly become chaotic. When this happens, the heart stops abruptly, and the victim collapses and quickly loses consciousness. Death usually follows unless a normal heart rhythm is restored within a few minutes. Defibrillation, which means delivering an electric shock to the heart, is the only known treatment to restore the normal rhythm. For every minute defibrillation is delayed, the victim's chances of survival go down 7 percent to 10 percent. According to Hall, concern about being able to ensure quick defibrillation prompted the foundation to set up a program with AEDs. "We worked with Connie Haan, a CPR/First Aid Program coordinator at Purdue University, to train our employees in both CPR and AED rescue procedures," Hall said. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which consists of mouth-to-mouth respiration and chest compression, allowing oxygenated blood to circulate to vital organs such as the brain and heart. PRF employees certified as lay rescuers include Mary-Claire Cartwright, Zandra Barker, Sharon Gertzen, Courtney Hedge, Kelly Barrett, Maureen Schmidt-Ward, Del Smyser, Michelle Blissitt, Deanna Pass, Mary Anne Schmidt and Michelle Wiese. Writer: Jeanine Phipps, media relations, (765) 494-0748, jsphipps@purdueresearchfoundation.org Sources: Judith Hall, (765) 494-8708, jahall@purdueresearchfoundation.org Connie Haan, (765) 494-6341, chaan@nursing.purdue.edu |
