RLSafety

Airports across the country are implementing Automated External Defibrillator (AED) programs and training staff to use them. In one international hub, their hard work is showing…

According to a ZOLL Corporation case study, Logan International Airport in Boston could be one of the safest airports in the world if you suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) while traveling.

Logan was one of the first airports to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as far back as 1996. More recently, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), which owns and operates Logan, undertook a technology upgrade and installed over 170 ZOLL AED Plus® units throughout Logan and the other transportation facilities it operates in Massachusetts.

Today, Logan can boast that over the past year it has achieved a 75 percent survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest. “That’s triple the national average,” said Chief Robert Donahue, who heads Massport Fire and Rescue.

To date, over 50 percent of Logan’s workforce — some 8,000 employees — have been trained to use the AED Plus as part of Massport’s ongoing training program, which includes first aid, CPR and AEDs.

The AED Plus units are dispersed throughout the airport in high-volume areas at intervals that are no greater than a 90-second brisk walk. Signage is very conspicuous. When a cardiac arrest event is reported, a call goes out over the public address system signaling the victim’s location to the four EMS rescue stations at Logan; Massport Fire and Rescue mobilizes a rapid response ambulance crew to be at the scene in less than three minutes. From Logan, SCA victims can be transported to some of the best hospitals in the world within two minutes.

That systematic approach, and Boston’s robust hospital network, paid off in lifesaving dividends for 48-year-old computer programmer, Doug Hale, whose SCA was witnessed by two transportation security officers Massport had trained. Both TSA officers and a passenger, an off-duty police officer, jumped to his aid with CPR and an AED Plus. Fire dispatch arrived in three minutes, shocked Hale, and continued CPR. He was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was treated with therapeutic hypothermia and then sent to rehab for a few weeks. After his recovery, Hale and his wife came back to Logan to publicly thank his rescuers for saving his life.

“What happened to me is testament to how critical having AEDs in public places can be,” said Doug Hale. “And having one that coaches rescuers with visual and audio prompts through a lifesaving event gives rescuers assurances when every second is vital.”

Doug’s wife, Tammy, a dental hygienist trained in CPR and AEDs, witnessed the event. “It seemed the rescuers were there almost immediately and hooked Doug up to the AED so fast. The AED Plus coached them every step of the way — where to place the electrodes, when the compressions weren’t deep enough. This was so critical because when you are usually doing compressions, you are blind to how effective they are.”

“Anyone could use this AED. It was so simple, not like the one I was trained on,” she added. “We’re grateful this happened in Boston because we might have had a different outcome if it had happened someplace else.”

For more information on AED implementation and training programs, please visit us at rlsafety.com.

Our Co-Owner and Coordinator, Luisa Rapport, wrote this commentary yesterday following the tragic events that unfolded during the Boston Marathon and we think it deserves a repost.

Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone involved and affected by the attack.

———

Many years ago, when I was employed in public safety, I had the opportunity to meet a group of responders from Magen David Adom, the Israeli national emergency medical service. They were educated, skilled responders, just like me, with families just like mine. They dealt with terrorist acts on a daily basis and made it clear to us that they would not be surprised to see it happen in the United States. Maybe we have been naïve to the hard truths of the world today, maybe we foolishly thought we were immune. I don’t know.

 This I do know: Terrorism, be it domestic or foreign, big, small or otherwise is universal in its intent; to terrorize, to make us afraid; To shake us so deeply as a community and victimize us as a nation that we cease to function as one. Regardless of which political party is in control, who is elected President, who has a gun or what security measures are in place, we will always be at risk for terrorism. That is scary.

But we all have the ability to fight terrorism. We can fight by getting to know our neighbors and building our communities. We can fight by supporting our responders and all those who rush in and go to work when everyone else is running out. We can fight by accepting different cultures and religions and beliefs (terrorists, as a whole, especially hate that). We can fight by being proud Americans who find the best in a changing nation.

We cannot bring those back that have been lost to terrorist acts. But by refusing to allow this to terrorize us, by refusing to allow this to disrupt and divide us as a nation, we reduce the number of victims and make the act unsuccessful.

A 24 year-old NHL hockey player who collapsed during a pick-up game is saved by friends who performed CPR and used the AED installed in the arena.

A 7^th grader in Frisco, Texas collapses in a school hallway and is alive today due to the quick action and use of an AED by two teachers.

TSA agents and passengers witness a 48 year-old computer programmer collapse at Logan International Airport and provide lifesaving care.

These three incidents of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) are just a tiny portion of the over 300,000 individuals who experience SCA each year. When we imagine the age and condition of someone who might require lifesaving CPR and defibrillation, this is not who we imagine. Yet these are the faces of SCA.

In 1990, the American Heart Association developed the Chain of Survival, with the knowledge that most SCA episodes happen outside of a hospital, with death occurring within minutes of onset.

For the Chain to be effective, quick execution of each and every link is critical. With every minute that passes, the victim’s chance of survival decreases by 7-10%.

The Chain of Survival is comprised of four critical components:

Early Access to Emergency Care involves being able to recognize the signs of SCA and calling 9-1-1 immediately.

Early CPR should be started and maintained until emergency medical services (EMS) arrives. During cardiacarrest, the heart quivers and twitches, and cannot pump blood effectively through the body. CPR keeps blood flowing to the heart, brain and throughout the body, sustaining life until a defibrillator, or other advanced medical care, arrives.

Early Defibrillation is the only way that the heart function of a person with ventricular fibrillation (v-fib) can be re-started. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, it should be used as quickly as possible. CPR alone is unlikely to fully resuscitate a person in SCA. Early defibrillation is perhaps the most significant link.

Early Advance Care is the final link and is provided by emergency medical services personnel. Paramedics and other highly trained EMS personnel can provide interventions that include the administration of cardiac drugs and the insertion of endotracheal breathing tubes.

When each link of the chain works successfully, the chance of surviving SCA increases greatly.

Since more than 85% of all SCA cases occur outside of a hospital, trained EMS personnel are unlikely to be at the scene immediately. Therefore, the most critical factors are having trained layperson responders with quick access to AEDs, making the Chain of Survival strong and ensuring the best possible chance of survival.

Sources: Philips Chain of Survival, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, Cardiac Smart

For more information or to inquire about CPR and AED training, visit rlsafety.com

Since our doors first opened in 1996, Response LifeSafety has constantly strived to provide our clients with the very best in emergency and preparedness training. We continually look for partnerships with like-minded organizations, that can benefit our clients and support our mission as a company. Today is no different.

We are excited to announce that, after a lengthy, months-long process, Response LifeSafety has been selected as a Licensed Training Provider for the American Red Cross! We are one of only twenty-two chosen across multiple states in the Western Division.

Working together with the American Red Cross will be an excellent way for us to provide our clients with the same quality training they have come to expect and the Red Cross certifications that are so universally recognized.

It also gives us the distinct opportunity to sustain and expand the mission that we share with the Red Cross in helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies of all sizes.

The American Red Cross has a long tradition of providing quality, lifesaving education since 1909 and the International Red Cross Movement is the largest humanitarian volunteer organization in the world. We are honored to be considered part of these organizations.

For more information on the training and services we provide, visit our website.

To learn more about the American Red Cross and to volunteer to help in your community, visit www.redcross.org.

image via nationalgeographic.com

Remember the “old days” in California, a whole month ago, when the idea of a major earthquake meant a widespread disaster in Northern or Southern California?

Now, Caltech seismologists have released scientific evidence that a “major earthquake” in California could actually produce shaking and widespread damage throughout the entire state.

New evidence coming from researchers studying the 1999 Taiwan quake and the 2011earthquake in Japan indicates that previously “stable” creeping zones were active in both incidents.

“What we have found, based on laboratory data about rock behavior, is that such supposedly stable segments can behave differently when an earthquake rupture penetrates into them. Instead of arresting the rupture as expected, they can actually join in and hence make earthquakes much larger than anticipated,” says Nadia Lapusta, professor of mechanical engineering and geophysics at Caltech and coauthor of the study, published January 9 in the journal Nature.

 So what should this new data mean to your average Californian? Quite a bit.

“…a creeping segment separates the southern and northern parts of California’s San Andreas Fault. Seismic hazard assessments assume that this segment would stop an earthquake from propagating from one region to the other, limiting the scope of a San Andreas quake. However, the team’s findings imply that a much larger event may be possible than is now anticipated—one that might involve both the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas.”

 Historically, emergency response to major California earthquakes has come from agencies in unaffected areas of the state. Southern California offers up resources to the North and vice versa. With the new quake model, both ends of the state would be affected, making it impossible to receive resources and aid.

Most importantly, this should be a reminder to all of us that we should be prepared to support ourselves and our families for a minimum of 72 hours following a major disaster. If a statewide earthquake struck, we should expect emergency services, food, fuel and utilities to be unavailable for much longer. Consider increasing your storage to a one to two week supply of essentials.

For more information on the Caltech report, visit the Caltech News page.

For more information on how you can prepare for a disaster, visit ready.gov.

Information for this article also found here.

As we close our doors for the holidays and look back on a busy year at Response LifeSafety, we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who keeps us going (and growing), year after year.

From the longtime clients, to new customers, to new partners, to our social media followers, we are continuously motivated to provide the services and support that we have become known for. We are constantly striving to remain at the cutting edge of preparedness education and to provide you with the best in training and information. Thank you for keeping us inspired!

Response LifeSafety will be closed through the holiday week and will reopen on January 2nd. If you have an urgent matter that needs attention, please contact us via email and we will respond promptly.

Wishing all of our clients, friends and family a very Merry Christmas and the happiest New Year!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the young victims, the heroic teachers, emergency responders, families of those lost and to everyone affected by the tragic incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

As parents and responders, we are acutely aware of the fact that we cannot always shield our children from the evils that exist in this world. Like most parents, we are doing our best to provide our children with love, support and consistency in the saddest of times for our Nation.

If your children are asking questions and you feel the need to discuss the incident with them, there are many online resources to guide you in these discussions. We found the following articles especially helpful:

How to Talk to Your Kids About the Connecticut School Shooting, Huffington Post

How Not to Talk With Children About the Newtown Shooting, The New York Times

Home fires are more prevalent in winter than in any other season. This is due, in part, to an increase in cooking and heating fires. Holiday decorations and winter storms that disrupt electrical service cause people to use alternative heating sources, which also contributes to the increased risk of fire in winter months.

Winter fires can be prevented! Follow the basic rules provided in this video, and maintain a fire-safe home this winter season.

Don’t forget to also test smoke detectors in your home regularly and install carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home!

Video credit: Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)

It’s been a week since Sandy barreled into the East Coast. Since then, we’ve been intently watching the recovery effort via television and social media. It has reminded us of a few things that we should ALL remember when preparing for and recovering from a disaster.

It CAN happen to you
The worst possible thing you can do in regards to disaster preparedness is to believe that it can’t or won’t happen to you. Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. Knowing what to do in an emergency and keeping disaster supply kits at home, work and in your vehicle are critical. It’s never too early to prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best.

Listen to Emergency Alerts and follow their direction.
Nothing saddens and frustrates us more than seeing emergency workers attempting dangerous rescues of people trapped or injured because they did not heed an evacuation warning.
Disaster and Preparedness agencies work tirelessly to give us as much warning of danger as possible and back it up with a great deal of technology. If your area receives an emergency alert, be sure to listen and follow any directions provided. You can now receive emergency alerts via email and smartphone. Apps are available for most devices or through your wireless provider and many communities have systems that you can register for online. New York State and Santa Clara County are just a couple examples. Check with your county or state.

Include supplies for your children.
Before we had children, we knew that we could survive on sea rations and energy bars for a week without complaint. It was a matter of calories and energy, plain and simple.
But then we had kids and  just can’t imagine them having to eat survival rations in the wake of a disaster. Children are creatures of habit, and so are their stomachs. It’s always best to keep familiar food items for your children in your emergency kit. Snacks and packaged foods with good shelf-lives are best. This will be both familiar and comforting to your children. (We like the convenient packaging and 1-year shelf-life of the Plum Organics products.)
And don’t forget essentials like diapers and wipes!

A little help goes a long way.
In the wake of hurricane Sandy, we have seen a massive relief effort mobilize to help those impacted by the storm. But the smaller acts of aid and kindness should never be minimized. Bringing an elderly neighbor water and medicine or setting up a charging station on your block can be just as welcomed.

Today, over 9.3 million Californians will Drop, Cover and Hold On during The Great California ShakeOut. This will be the largest earthquake drill to date in the United States.

While some areas of California are more likely to have earthquakes than others, all of California is at higher risk compared to the rest of the country. You could be anywhere when an earthquake strikes: at home, at work, at school, or even on vacation.

What we do now will determine our quality of life after our next big earthquake. Are you prepared to survive and recover quickly?

The Great California ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes: “Drop, Cover and Hold On.” The ShakeOut has also been organized to encourage you, your community, your school, or your organization to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure your space in order to prevent damage and injuries.

We encourage everyone to take the opportunity today to practice your response to a major earthquake!

For more information, visit shakeout.org.