By Stuart Tomlinson
The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon)
Copyright 2006 The Oregonian
Lt. Michael Shults of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office compares the defibrillator that re-started his heart in May to “the ultimate video game.”
“Win the game, save a life and get a second chance,” Shults said Tuesday during a demonstration and training session of the devices.
Shults’ near-death experience prompted Sheriff Bernie Giusto to find the money in his budget to purchase 20 automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, for deputies to carry in their squad cars. The deputies will use the devices to revive victims of heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, accidents and drownings — whether that’s another deputy or the public they serve.
The simple-to-use devices will also be installed in strategic locations in buildings used by the sheriff’s office.
On May 21, Shults was at the end of a challenging, two-week Oregon Marine Board course for public safety officials at Camp Rilea when he felt light-headed. He had just emerged from a pool where he had been put through numerous scenarios — most that involved treading water in full patrol gear.
“I put my hand on the shoulder of the guy in front of me and said, ‘Keep an eye on me. . . . I have to take a knee,’ ” Shults said. “When I went down on two knees, I knew I was in trouble . . . then I went out.”
The stress of the exercise and a blockage in an artery near his heart had sent him into cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, Shults was one of about 166,000 Americans who suffers an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest each year.
Shults was lucky that day. A defibrillator was nearby, and several paramedics were part of the class. He was shocked back to life and returned to work last week.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is like an electrical storm in the heart,” said Shaun Lisenby, district manager of Philips Medical Systems, manufacturer of the HeartStart FRX defibrillator the sheriff’s office bought for $1,400 each. “The machine delivers a shock that’s like hitting control-alt-delete on a computer, rebooting the heart.”
As the defibrillators have gotten smaller and smaller, they’ve also gotten easier to use, Lisenby said. Equipped with a four-year battery — previous devices needed to be recharged often and were delicate — current models are made to stand up under rugged use.
Weighing about five pounds, the device has three buttons and a gentle voice that can lead anyone through restarting a heart.
- After opening the device, a first responder presses button No. 1: The voice says to remove or cut off the shirt and attach adhesive pads to the chest. “Place pads exactly as shown,” the voice says.
- The machine then analyzes the person’s heart rhythm. The machine will not shock a person whose heart is functioning properly, Lisenby said.
- If a shock is required, the voice tells the user to stand back, don’t touch the patient and press button No. 3 to deliver the shock. “Shock delivered. Analyzing heart rhythm. Make sure emergency medical services are called.”
- The voice tells the responder to check the patient’s airway, breathing and circulation, and if needed, begin CPR. After pressing a third button, the voice coaches the responder through the CPR steps.
“We’ve made it so easy anyone can do it,” Lisenby said.