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By Tiffany Allison
The American Red Cross Watauga chapter is raffling off a Power
Heart AED G3 defibrillator in November to raise funding.
“We hope to raise $1,000 to $2,000 to put with money
we’ve already raised to help purchase an emergency response
vehicle for the chapter,” Lynn Norwood, Watauga County
Red Cross employee, said. “Based on the climate and
terrain we live in, our chapter could really benefit from
having a vehicle with four-wheel drive.”
Norwood teaches a class on how to operate an AED. She has never
had to operate one in a state of emergency, but she stresses
the importance of having one on hand.
Tickets are available now at the Watauga County Red Cross
office and are $10 for one ticket and $15 for two tickets.
An automated external defibrillator is a device that analyzes
the heart’s rhythm for abnormalities and, if necessary,
can deliver an electrical shock to restart a failed heart.
An AED is user friendly, and the voice prompt feature on the
machine walks the user through the steps of monitoring the victim’s
heart rate. If needed, the machine will instruct the user to
shock the victim if they enter cardiac arrest.
“A prime example of how the use of an AED can benefit can
be seen in the story of the patrollers at Appalachian Ski Mountain
that saved a lady in January 2008,” Norwood said.
“The lady collapsed, and the patrollers there began CPR,
used the AED, and by the time the ambulance arrived, (she) had
a pulse back.”
Norwood continued, “The chance of survival for a victim
in cardiac arrest decreases by 10 percent for every minute that use
of an AED is withheld.”
She is also willing to train the winner of the raffle
or their organization on how to use the AED, which is a $45
per person value.
“But I do stress that AEDs can be found in many public
places now, and I strongly urge anyone who finds themselves
in a situation where they think an AED might be needed or beneficial
to grab it and turn it on,” she said.
Norwood offers three pieces of advice for anyone who uses
an AED:
* Most of the time the AEDs in public places are wired
in, meaning that alarms sound when they’re removed, so
do not be alarmed. Most of them are located along with fire
extinguishers. Simply by grabbing the AED, you’ve called
for help.
* As soon as you turn the machine on, it will start talking
to you, giving you clear, precise and easy to follow directions.
This enables people that have never seen one before to
simply follow the instructions and use them.
* Individuals don’t have to make the decision about
whether to shock someone or not. The machine analyzes the
victim’s heart rate and makes the decision. All the
potential rescuer has to do is follow directions.
The Red Cross is also offering classes to businesses that desire
to train employees to handle a choking customer. The class lasts
less than an hour and costs $10 per person, and members of the
Watauga County Red Cross will come to workplaces and teach the
class. Stickers will be provided to display on businesses’
windows to let customers know that they are certified.
For more information about the raffle or the class, contact
Lynn Norwood at (828) 264-8226 or visit www.wataugaredcross.net.
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