|
|
Newsroom Chapter Blog
|
 |
|
Jan
7
1/7/2009 4:02 PM
|
|
Did you see the story on KSDK this week about the Collinsville referee who collapsed while on the court at a basketball game? According to the report, Gary Gustafson fell on the floor and even flat-lined for 30 seconds or so. Doctors told him it was the Automated External Defibrillator (or AED) that shocked his heart back into life.
There were several people that rushed to his aid, one of them being the Collinsville Fire Chief, who just happened to be in the stands. I spoke with him yesterday about what happened, and he was apprehensive about taking credit, putting most of the accolades back on the others there helping. But there's no doubt Gary Gustafson is a lucky guy. Lucky that so many people acted quickly. Lucky that they knew exactly what to do. And lucky that the school had an AED nearby.
It's the law in Illinois that high schools must have an AED on site. That's not the case in Missouri. The Red Cross works hard to inform schools, businesses and other groups about the importance of having an AED in place and ready to go -- should someone go into cardiac arrest. According to Dana Garner, our AED Specialist, we've worked with 300 organizations around the St. Louis area to acquire AEDs. Does your office, church, or other public group need one? Click here for more information and an online demo of how they work.
We also offer training classes in CPR and using AEDs here at the Chapter. It's not something you ever hope you have to use, but it is empowering to know you can save a life if needed.
|
And a big thanks to all of those people who jumped into action to save Gary Gustafson's life! He's now at home, recovering from quadruple bypass surgery and will someday be back on the court.
Tags:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|