• Blog
  • My Account
  • Logout
Annuvia

Call Today! 866-364-7940

Monday - Friday 7 AM – 7 PM Central Time

  • AHA Classes
    • CPR AED Training
    • First Aid Training
    • BLS for Healthcare Provider
    • Other Courses
  • AED Medical Direction
    • Ongoing AED Oversight
    • AED Unit Registration
    • AED Use Reporting
    • Reviews
  • Classes By Location
    • Atlanta, GA
    • Chicago, IL
    • Denver, CO
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • New York, NY
    • San Francisco, CA
    • Seattle, WA
    • More Locations
  • Blog
  • Oxygen

Health Club “Shock” on Anniversary of Legislation

-By Micah Bongberg Google+ | @annuvia

HAYWARD, CA-At 6:40 AM on a weekday morning, the gym floor was sparsely occupied. A few members went about their workouts individually while the attendant busied himself with various housekeeping tasks. All that changed in an instant. A 39 year old male patron with no history of heart problems began his early morning workout as usual. Shortly after, a routine glance around the gym by the attendant revealed the patron slumped to the floor, unmoving. The attendant grabbed the facility’s Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device and ran to the man’s side. Unable to get a response to the “shake and shout” test he had been taught in his CPR class, he put both his CPR and his AED training to work within two minutes of the incident. Another patron concurrently dialed 911 from a land line.

When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, the attendant was still administering CPR and had given the victim one shock with the AED device. The paramedics were able to detect a faint pulse and transported the patient to the hospital for further medical intervention. Unfortunately, this story does not have the traditional happy ending. Despite the best medical interventions by both trained medical personnel and the gym employee, the victim did not survive. Ironically, this event took place on July 1st, the one year anniversary of California’s Assembly Bill 1507 (the 2007 “Gym Law”), legislation which requires that gyms have an AED device on site, legally compliant AED program management, and trained employees on duty.

Reached by phone, Micah Bongberg, Vice President of Business Development of MasterCPR (mastercpr.com), the company that provides both CPR and AED training, equipment, and AED program management for the gym, was clearly saddened by the loss of life due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest . He went on to comment, “While the outcome of this event is unfortunate, there are elements of celebration, satisfaction, and accomplishment. Statistically, when an AED is present during a witnessed Sudden Cardiac Arrest, the unit is deployed only 50% of the time. The fact that this employee responded promptly, effectively, and confidently must be noted, emphasized, and congratulated. Moreover, the victim in this case arrived at the hospital with a detectable pulse. This is evidence that there is nothing else this facility or employee could have done for this gentleman.”

Survival rates for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) are less than 5% in cases where CPR is begun immediately. Survival rates hover around 0% if no action is taken by bystanders in the crucial first one to two minutes of the event. Unfortunately, most lay rescuers simply wait for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to arrive, and by then it is simply too late. Published studies indicate that with early CPR and defibrillation with portable AED devices, survival rates for victims climb to as high as 70% or more. Chest compressions alone administered by a casual bystander increase the victim’s chances for survival dramatically. “When in doubt, do something,” advises Bongberg “the reality is, the victim is already dead and a lay responder’s actions can only improve the victim’s chances of survivability.”

SCA is an insidious killer, attacking apparently healthy people without warning and taking more lives annually than breast cancer, prostate cancer, gunshot wounds, and fires…combined! Consider the average gym member; approximately 55 years of age, working on becoming more fit, professionally in a sedentary occupation. In recognition of this demographic and the increased risk of SCA associated with exercise, California is one of 13 states and the District of Columbia that now require the presence of AED devices in gyms, health clubs, and fitness facilities. Additionally, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) now requires that all personal trainers and certified gym personnel be certified in the use of AED devices as well as CPR as of June 1, 2007.

“We know that what we teach saves lives. Our training goal is to give laypeople the confidence and competence to get involved wherever they may be if they witness an emergency. Our instructors are working professionals and they all agree that when they arrive on the scene where a bystander is acting, there is a far better outcome for the patient. This situation is an example of the effectiveness of that type of training,” continued Micah Bongberg.

    Drop Us a Note!

    • Captcha code: captcha

    Blog Categories

    • Annuvia News
    • Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
    • Corporate Health and Wellness Programs
    • CPR and First Aid Training
    • Health and Wellness
    • HeartSine
    • Technology
    • Uncategorized
    • Workplace Safety Training

    RSS Blog RSS

    • Update to Verdugo Case
    • CPR RsQ Assist: Staying Ahead of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
    • The CPR Problem
    • Police Add AEDs to their Tool Belt
    • New Defibrillator on the Market

    RSS Comments RSS

    • Comment on What does the law say about administering CPR? by Mbongberg
    • Comment on What does the law say about administering CPR? by Brian Graddon
    • Comment on CALIFORNIA – SUPREME COURT RULING DEFINES GOOD SAMARITAN LAW PROTECTIONS by Gary F. Logan
    • Comment on CPR is not the Silver Bullet by Lakewood District Buys 10 AEDs | Honolulu CPR Training.com
    • Comment on Tips for Creating a Company First Aid & CPR Program That Really Works by Solomon Hosford

    Tag Cloud

    Add new tag AED Medical Direction AED Oversight aeds AED training AED Units automated external defibrillators CPR AED Classes CPR training First Aid training health and wellness programs Workplace Safety Training

    Blog Archives

    • November 2014 (1)
    • July 2014 (1)
    • June 2014 (10)
    • May 2014 (7)
    • April 2014 (1)
    • March 2014 (7)
    • December 2012 (1)
    • June 2012 (1)
    • December 2011 (1)
    • October 2011 (1)
    • September 2011 (1)
    • July 2011 (2)
    • March 2011 (4)
    • October 2010 (3)
    • August 2010 (1)
    • July 2010 (1)
    • June 2010 (1)
    • March 2010 (1)
    • February 2010 (1)
    • January 2010 (1)
    • December 2009 (3)
    • November 2009 (1)
    • October 2009 (3)
    • September 2009 (3)
    • May 2009 (2)

    About Us

    • About Us
    • Management
    • Mission
    • Reviews
    • Terms and Conditions

    Resources

    • Resources
    • AED Laws
    • Annuvia’s Articles
    • CPR & AED Research
    • Case Studies

    More

    • Annuvia's Blog
    • Where to Get CPR Training
    • Arch AED Management
    • Scholarship
    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Map

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google +
    • YouTube
    • LinkedIn
      Copyright © 2023 Annuvia. All Rights Reserved.