62
Jun
8
High School Referee Saved
Filed Under HES News
Health Education Services had the privilege of arranging for the Heroes Award through the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, for those involved in the successful resuscitation of referee Mr. Pat Boland at Menlo School in Atherton, CA. Also honored was Chief Glenn Nielsen of the Atherton Police Department. Under his auspices, AEDs were given to all schools in Atherton that were interested having them. Those honored were the following:
Dr. Randy Lee
Dr. Jim Badger
Dr. Kathy Renschler
Dr. Susan Hoffman
Deborah Addicott, RN
Jon Cohen, Head Athletic Trainer
Please read the story below, written by Jon Cohen.
“On January 27th, 2009 a husband, father, high school referee, and friend was saved by an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Nobody could have predicted the events but fortunately many people were prepared for it. This was supposed to be an evening about two rival schools participating in a high school basketball game that would help decide first place in league. The game began like any other basketball game would begin. Teams were announced, hand shakes exchanged, and the jump ball initiated the start of the game.
The game was progressing at a frenetic pace. Both teams were unable to get their offenses going, and the crowd’s cheer grew louder with each offensive and defensive trip down the court. With roughly 2 minutes to go in the first quarter, and the outcome of the game too early to call, an event occurred that silenced the excited crowd. It was not from any one play during the game, not from a great shot, nor a defensive steal.
As the referee, Pat Boland, was about to hand the basketball to a player signaling a return to play, he suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed. Time stood still for that moment. Did he trip or stumble? Will he just pop back up and play will continue? When one of the Menlo School’s basketball players motioned for help he knew something was wrong. Menlo School’s athletic trainer was the first responder onto the court followed closely by doctors and nurses from the stands. Little did Pat know that Menlo School had an emergency action plan that was not only practiced and refined just 4 months prior to his collapse on the gym floor, but also a cardiologist, emergency room doctor, and nurse who would help to save his life were in the attendance that evening.
Everything a first responder is trained to perform is tested in a matter of seconds. Call 911…Airway…Breathing…Circulation. Labored breathing. Good, the airway is clear but the seizure Pat was suffering made it difficult to maintain an airway. As medical professionals worked to maintain an airway, his pulse became weak and thready. About a minute later he lost consciousness. Doctors and nurses initiated CPR and, in a flash, Menlo School’s athletic trainer was running for the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) that was on the wall about 50 feet away.
About 30 seconds later the pads were placed onto Pat’s chest and the AED was analyzing his heart rhythm. ”Shock Advised”, was the next command from the AED. After the first shock was delivered, Pat regained consciousness momentarily but quickly went unconscious. With the pads still attached, the machine signaled for another shock. The flashing button indicated that after it’s pushed, enough electricity would be running through his chest with one goal - normalize Pat’s heart rhythm. The second shock was delivered. A moment passed that seemed like an eternity. Once again he regained consciousness.
Thirty seconds after the second shock, the paramedics arrived. Time seemed to be going at a snails pace but in reality the time from Pat’s incident occurred to the paramedics arriving was less than 5 minutes. The application of the AED pads and the first shock was less then 1:30 minutes after he lost consciousness. You can look at all the statistics, scenarios, and emergency action plans but until you have to use any of them you never fully appreciate what it means to be prepared.
A process that you practice over and over again was vindicated. The outcome was a blessing. Most importantly, everyone who was at that basketball game on January 27th, 2009 will always remember the events that occurred, Pat Boland, and one AED.”
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Great…blog. This truly validates how amazing AEDs are.