Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!

Subject: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 04:22 AM

From an ambulance drivers forum recent post=
In the Uk you have about a 2 percent chance of surviving a heart attack,
in Seattle USA , its about 80 percent!

reason s, in Seattle most people are trained in BLS {basic Life Support], and there are automatic defribrilators in all public buildings, cinemas, pubs, hotels etc.

[figures are for a first cardiac arrest, in a public place

well done seatttle.

just shows waht can be acheved. done with a bit of effort.

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 04:25 AM

this is bs, forgot to click the bs thing, fell free to move it.

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 04:40 AM

Bugger!! You mean I could have saved myself 2 years of tests and waiting, I should have just gone to Seattle and fallen over!!

There is a campaign by the British Heart Foundation to get more people trained in CPR... but with first aiders not allowed to issue more than a packet of tissues (can't do sticky plasters, some people might be allergic!), and patients sueing for the slightest inconvenience, it's highly unlikely it'll ever work. Strange, I remember being taught basic first aid at school, I was the only person in the 5th year able to inflate Vinyl Vera, the CPR dummy. If I tried it on a real person now, I'd probably get sued....

LTS

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 09:08 AM

Liz, most places in the States have "Good Samaritan" laws. That means that if you make a good-faith effort to provide first aid to someone in need, and there are adverse consequences (real or alleged), you are generally immune to law suits.

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 01:25 PM

Well, Art, I wish someone woud have the sense to pass something similar for us benighted UKers.

We seem to be acquiring what we perceive as a US habit of suing anyone and everyone here, as if this will somehow prevent life sometimes sending us what we least want.

I have helped out at more than one traffic accident, I view it as the duty of one civilised being to another, but I know from discussing it that most of my friends and colleagues would not do so, unless they were already involved in some other way. It seems to come from a combination of 1] having little idea what to do anyway, 2] fear of the possible consequences, and 3] bone idleness.

I seem to remember learning that some of the European countries have laws compelling people to assist, including equiping their vehicles with first aid kits. Not sure I would go so far (there are, after all, some monumentally dumb people around, whose "help" could be lethal) but a "best efforts made" defence enshrined in law sounds to me like a very good idea.

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Megan L
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 01:37 PM

A case was tried in uk where someone was paralised after being moved. It happened on a scrambles track, Judge asked what would have happened if they had not been moved. Answer they were right below a jump and would have got landed on probably being killed. Case dismissed.

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 04:33 PM

I live in Seattle. Medic One units are stationed at fire houses. When the 911 (emergency operator) receives a call for help, a Medic One unit is dispatched immediately from the fire station nearest the victim's residence, and last I heard, they almost always arrive within about three minutes. Not too bad.

They also respond to other medical emergencies.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: open mike
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 04:45 PM

here we call her Resusci Annie!
her cousin Vynal (Vinyl?) Vera must have a british accent!
and many "de-fib" units are being added to equipment on
fire and rescue equipment here too. The de-fibrillator
only helps if you have a certain type of heart condition
where the heart muscle is not pumping full volume, just
"twitching" but they can work miracles for some folks!

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Dave Swan
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 05:15 PM

There was a time that Seattle claimed that 75% of the populus had been taught to perform CPR following mass training days at sports venues and the like.

The joke was that Seattle was the most dangerous place in the world to fall asleep. Peaceful slumberers were descended upon by hordes of would-be life savers breaking ribs and applying the lip lock of life.

D

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: frogprince
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 05:59 PM

" I was the only person in the 5th year able to inflate Vinyl Vera"
...Liz, are you sure that was a first aid course?

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: goodbar
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 07:47 PM

i live in the seattle area. good thing 'cause my dad's a fat ass who's gonna have a heart attack sometime.

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 12:55 PM

Yes, Frogprince... singers lungs see.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Got a Heart Problem? move to Seattle!
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 11:56 AM

theres a program on telly tonight, "americas fattest city" ,not sure if its seattle or not, but most of the residents are fat.

maybe it should be twinned with Hull, hull is the fat capital of the UK, [see Nuttys thread "Hull in the headlines"!