Editorial: Caught on Tape

There's no question we live in a society where visual delivery of education and information counts most.

You can talk about the importance of the chain of survival to your local community until you are blue in the face, but if you really want to deliver the message, showing them how the chain works is key. And that is what a security video of Wes Rogers’ sudden cardiac arrest and the subsequent EMS response does.

In June 2009, Rogers, a 53-year-old business owner, collapsed in his Portland, Oregon, office. His coworkers recognized what was going on, called 9-1-1 and began dispatcher-assisted CPR. First responders quickly arrived and took over the resuscitation, and 23 minutes after Wes lost consciousness, he regained a pulse in the field.

Mike Verkest, training officer at American Medical Response in Portland, saw an opportunity to use the video as a training tool and after it was posted on YouTube, the message went viral.

Public awareness and response to SCA is just one part of the story. The September EMS World Magazine cover report describes how the system behind the save is what makes the difference between life and death.

In the article, authors Dr. Ed Racht and Lynn White discuss the HeartRescue Project, which involves a group of individuals and their organizations who have partnered to develop integrated community responses to sudden cardiac arrest with a goal of a 50% increase in survival rates over five years in partner geographies. This collaborative project will use shared approaches, innovative programs and dissemination of best practices.

Learn more about the HeartRescue Project at the EMS World Expo opening keynote on October 31 in New Orleans, LA, where Dr. Racht will discuss how improving survival rates takes commitment, resources and a willingness to work together toward a common goal. To register, visit EMSWorldExpo.com.

Nancy Perry is the editorial director for EMS World.