Every day 1,000 Americans suffer sudden cardiac arrest and their best hope --sometimes their only hope -- can be the people around them.
For this reason, the Connellsville Elks B.P.O.E. No. 503 recently purchased an automated external defibrillator, or AED, and started a program at the club that offers cardiopulmonary resuscitation training to employees and club members.
Most often the victim is suffering from a common disorder called ventricular fibrillation and needs defibrillation, an electrical shock to correct the victim's heart rhythm.
The AED, which delivers this shock, is designed to be simple and easy to learn, with three to four hours of training.
The device "talks" to the rescuer throughout the process, continually monitors the victim to discern whether CPR or defibrillation is needed, and presents graphics to remind the individual how to proceed.
Although there has never been an incident at the Elks club, David Whittaker, a past exalted ruler, said it's better to be safe than sorry.
"This is just a preventive measure," he said.
For Whittaker, having the life-saving piece of equipment on hand hits a very personal note. When he was a senior in high school, his father died after having a heart attack at Whittaker's football game. Although no one will ever know for sure, Whittaker wonders if his father's life could have been saved by an AED.
Whittaker and fellow past exalted rulers Richard Witt, Richard Fasson, John Dye, Jim Hines, Ron Hawkins and David Hixenbaugh came up with the idea to purchase the equipment at their annual golf outing after learning that the devices were available at area schools.
After gaining approval from the club membership, Witt contacted Terry Boors, a state-certified paramedic, CPR/AED instructor and 30-year member of the Elks, who helped the club acquire the device.
Boors pointed out that the first person on the scene is rarely a paramedic and it can take an ambulance up to 10 minutes to arrive. Every minute that the victim goes untreated is significant, he said.
"For every minute that a person is not defibrillated, the chance of being saved drops 10 percent. So after 10 minutes, they can become biologically dead due to lack of oxygen and blood circulation to the brain, and without the application of the AED and administration of CPR their chances of survival are slim," he said.
Boors helped the club plan two training sessions: one for employees and one for present and past officers. Boors praised the club for having the foresight to acquire an AED and train its employees and officers to use the device and administer CPR.
"The real heroes of this story are the Elks club members, officers or employees who will be the first ones to respond in case of an emergency at their facility," he said.
Boors said the devices are being placed in airplanes, airports, casinos, hotels, churches, office buildings, malls, restaurants, retail stores and other public places. He believes every home, office and public place will be equipped with an AED, just like fire extinguishers and smoke alarms.
"It's going to become very popular," said Boors. "Soon, people are going to carry them around like they do cell phones."
Boors hopes that other Connellsville area clubs, the library and churches will follow the Elks' lead.
"Let's make this a good epidemic," Boors said.
