AFMC Command News

Prepared to save a Wingman

  • Published
  • By Howdy Stout
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  It was a Friday the 13th with a happy ending as co-workers from the 76th Maintenance Group used an Automated External Defibrillator to revive a heart attack victim at Tinker Air Force Base.

The 23-year-old painter was atop a 20-foot-tall scissor lift with a co-worker, sanding the tail of an aircraft, when he blacked out from cardiac arrest. Once on the ground, he was successfully kept alive, using a combination of Cardiopul-monary Resuscitation and the AED, until medical help could arrive.

"There is a young person still enjoying life because people did what they were trained to do," said Marcus Brown, public access defibrillator coordinator at Tinker AFB. "It was a successful use."

"He's going to be OK," said David Lockhart, aircraft painter and work team leader who used the AED to save his young co-worker. "If it hadn't been for the AED, his two daughters would have been without a daddy."

A former CPR instructor, Mr. Lockhart is well-known among his unit as being responsible for checking the AED machine daily, ensuring the batteries are charged and the device is operational. Mr. Brown said it is vital for everyone to know who is able to operate the nearest AED.

On the afternoon of February 13, Mr. Lockhart put his years of training on the AED to real-life use for the first time. Mr. Lockhart said his training dictated his actions.

"I took the AED and did my job," he said.

The way the AED works is the unit's pads are attached to the victim. The unit then detects whether there is any heart rhythm or what is called "shock able" rhythms, or arrhythmia. The unit will advise the users to either shock the victim or administer CPR. The unit is also capable of telling operators to stop CPR if necessary while it analyzes the victim's heart rhythm. The shocks are intended to prompt the heart to resume its own normal rhythm.

"Basically, you turn it on and just listen to the instructions," Mr. Brown said. "It tells you exactly what you need to do."

In this instance, the AED was part of a larger effort to save the worker. As the medical emergency unfolded, workers simultaneously notified the shift supervisor, called 911, administered CPR and retrieved the AED.

"They initiated the correct actions," said Terry Ford, chief of Fire and Emergency Services.

The pads of the AED were applied to the victim, which advised the users to apply a shock. The unit then advised CPR for several minutes before noting a change in the victim's heart rhythm. Another shock was administered, which restored the victim's heart rhythm. Emergency Medical Services were on the scene within three minutes. With a cardiac arrest, brain damage or death can result if CPR is not initiated immediately, Chief Ford said.

"Early intervention is the key to success in cardiac resuscitation," Chief Ford said. "The folks on scene did everything right...In a cardiac emergency, seconds count." Chief Ford said it is important for people to be trained in basic life saving techniques such as CPR. Saving a life is more than just telephoning - and waiting - for an ambulance to arrive.

"It starts with people at the scene that are trained to initiate lifesaving procedures," Chief Ford said.

Mr. Brown, who oversees the maintenance of the units and monitors user training, also urges workers to be trained in the use of the equipment. Training is done by the Red Cross and successful trainees receive a Heart Saver AED certificate. Only those properly certified are legally protected when using the AED.

In addition, recurrent training is done every quarter to help familiarize operators with the AED. A requirement since 2006, Mr. Brown says the quarterly training helps operators become more comfortable with using the AEDs during an emergency.

"There might be some fear," Mr. Brown said, "but there will be no panic. Everybody knows what to do when it happens."