AED Saves Man Close to Home

June 22, 2001

On June 7th 2001 Bob Dulany and Brad Andrews were called to a medical emergency in the technical publications department of Country Coach Incorporated in Junction City, Oregon. The call came in as a man having convulsions. As someone in the technical publications department activated EMS, Bob and Brad jumped in their van and drove to the building that houses the technical publications department. They arrived at the building, grabbed the first aid bag from the van and went inside. They were told upon entrance to the building the man had stopped breathing. As they approached the patient they noticed he was face down and had blood around his face. They quickly determined he should be turned to his back to properly assess his airway, breathing, and circulation. After a quick initial assessment the patient was found breathless and pulseless. The two rescuers began CPR with Bob doing compressions and Brad administering the breaths. A phone call was placed to the safety office with a request for the company's Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and the rescuers made sure 911 had been called.

When the Survivalink FirstSave AED arrived at the scene Bob quickly got the pads placed on the patient. The machine went through its analysis process and advised a shock. Bob delivered the first shock. The machine began to analyze again. The next directions Bob and Brad received from the AED was, "no shock advised, begin CPR". The two men started CPR until the machine again was ready to analyze. During the course of the rescue the men would provide two more shocks separated by one minute of CPR between each shock. The patient regained a pulse after the third shock but was gasping for breath. Brad and Bob did not have to administer rescue breaths because the volunteers from the Junction City Fire Department arrived and took over the rescue.

Country Coach Incorporated is a high-end motor-home manufacturer. Bob is the Safety Coordinator and Brad is the Assistant Safety Coordinator. Country Coach purchased the AED in 1999 and four employees received training in the MEDIC FIRST AID AED program in February of 2000 by Master Trainer Corey Abraham. The patient, a 29 year-old outdoor enthusiast who enjoys mountain climbing and running, had no history of heart problems and had worked out with weights before going to work on June 7th.

Ed Reed, Vice President of Operations at Country Coach, said he had hoped they would never have to use the AED, but was certainly glad the company had invested in the device and the training. Reed also voiced his surprise about the relatively young age and seemingly good physical condition of the patient.

Since the incident the patient has had a defibrillator implanted in his chest which will deliver shocks internally should this ever happen again. He plans to return to work after the company's annual Fourth of July shutdown.

Note from Corey: I have trained hundreds of people in first aid and the use of AEDs. I always knew the knowledge gained from the classes could potentially save a life. What I didn't know was how close to home it would hit when that life was saved. As a 29 year old myself with a young family I am grateful to have a job that allows me to make a difference and to meet people who, like Brad Andrews and Bob Dulany, show the courage and bravery to take what they learned in a classroom and apply it to a real life emergency.

Read more about Master Trainer Corey Abraham...