Here we are with another report of someone using Emergency Preparedness principals (Immediate Response Training) to help save a life. In an article written March 16, 2021 we learn about an event at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on August 1, 2018. On this day, Patty Hill was on a phone call with her mother when she heard several calls for help. When she came on the scene, she found a co-worker, Ms. V, unresponsive after hitting her head and laying on the floor. This is where Patty used her critical eye while forming an initial impression and found that the person who was already responding was incorrectly checking for a pulse. This is when Patty took over.
After verifying that Ms. V was unresponsive and did not have a pulse, she immediately began compressions while simultaneously engaging a bystander for support to grab her PPE, a resuscitation mask. Not long after a doctor and a nurse arrived (due to being at a busy airport) and began utilizing team based high-quality CPR. The doctor eventually asked for an AED which ironically was what Patty was leaning against while on the phone with her mother. Paramedics arrived on scene 20 minutes later and transported Ms. V to the hospital.
Due to Patty’s swift response and training, and an assist from medically trained bystanders Patty was able to visit Ms. V and her family in the hospital where she was treated and later released for Cardiac Arrest.
Lets address some key points:
EMS response times
Perhaps the most concerning issue is that it took 20 minutes for paramedics to arrive on station. The national average in rural areas is approximately 8 – 10 minutes. Had Patty or the medical professionals that happened across the scene not been there, there is a 100% probability that Ms. V would have died of cardiac arrest. It only takes 3 minutes for permanent brain damage to occur, and for every minute without high quality CPR and defibrillation the chance of survivability falls by 7-10%.
Using a Critical eye
When Patty arrived on the scene, she sized up the scene and formed an initial impression. This is imperative and paid off because she noticed that the person that was originally trying to help Ms. V was using their thumb to check for a pulse. Trained individuals know that your thumb carries its own pulse, your pulse, and so it is possible and even likely to miss that Ms. V was in cardiac arrest.
Situational Awareness
The article notes that Patty was standing by the AED while on the phone with her mother. Ideally, Patty should have grabbed the AED on her way to investigate the scene, however she knew where the device was and had access to it quickly. Knowing what equipment is available, and its location is imperative in any emergency.
Being Prepared
The article mentions that Patty kept a resuscitation mask in her purse, in a highly visible holder, which was known to her coworkers. On top of being trained to respond, Patty also kept the tools on her that she needed (Personal Protective Equipment – PPE) to keep herself safe from biological hazards, while helping another person.
If you want to learn how to be like Patty, don’t hesitate to visit www.emp2c.com/firstaid to become certified in First Aid/CPR/AED or more advanced classes such as CPR for the professional rescuer or Basic Life Support.
Original article written by, Gina Mayfield, 16 March 2021 at: https://bit.ly/3cjdrHI
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