Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony - (Page 54)
One local man's story of survival
The
Racing
Heart
by Carla Carwile
L
54
SPRING 2 014
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm. If needed,
it can send an electric shock to the heart to try to
restore a normal rhythm. AEDs are used to treat
sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)-a condition in which
the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.
When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain
and other vital organs.
SCA usually causes death if it's not treated
within minutes. In fact, each minute of SCA leads to
a 10 percent reduction in survival. Using an AED on a
person who is having SCA may save the person's life.
Source: nih.gov/health
"What those who saw it happen say is that I finished the
race and was cooling down when I collapsed. Now, seeing
a cyclist fall over is nothing new to these people ... but I
didn't get up. Tim Prossen, the racer who was scheduled
to start after me, started CPR.
"We always have a couple EMTs at races like these,
so the spotters at the finish line radioed them. Gretchen
Schad, an EMT from St. Anthony Hospital, was there in
two minutes or less. I was in ventricular fibrillation, so
she zapped me two or three times with the AED."
illustration by thinkstock
ast September, Colorado racing cyclist Joe
Turek's heart stopped as he crossed the finish
line of a time trial. The immediate action of fellow cyclists and emergency personnel that day
saved his life. The ongoing support of his cardiovascular
team at St. Anthony Hospital has him back in the race.
Here's the story he wants to share:
"We were at Bear Creek Park for the third of a fourrace series. The big storms last summer had flooded half
the park, so we'd had to change the race course design.
I'd gone out the night before to check it out. It was short-
just four miles or so.
"My girlfriend Jacquie tells me I was complaining during warm-up about having some arrhythmia, but I don't
remember that. In fact, I don't remember anything about
the day it happened.
What Is an AED?
http://www.nih.gov/health
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony
Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony
Contents
From the CEO
Community Connections
High Five for Heart Care
When Wounds Won’t Heal
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
Breast Density and You
Stories from Healing Way
Support System
The Racing Heart
Ask the Experts
Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - St. Anthony
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