Where’s the nearest AED to you?
Desperately struggling to breathe during an emphysema attack last Sunday night, Waitarere Beach man Chris Irwin needed help fast.
At real risk of suffering heart failure also, emergency call operators advised his wife Deb that they needed an automated external defibrillator (AED) on hand – just in case – and that the nearest one was at the nearby bowling club.
‘‘Chris was completely limp, so I was holding him upright to keep his airways open,’’ Deb said.
Meanwhile, a friend rushed off to retrieve the AED but, being Sunday night, the bowling club was closed.
The friend tracked down someone with a key and they both returned with the AED to the Irwins’ home. However, to make matters worse, no-one felt confident enough to use it.
Thankfully, paramedics arrived minutes later to provide the necessary first aid,. They took Chris to hospital, where he spent three nights being monitored, before he was discharged on Wednesday.
The Irwins said their experience highlighted the need for everyone to learn where AEDs were located near their home or workplace, and to know the contact details for people who could access them if necessary.
They also urged people to become familiar with how these medical devices worked.
Chris said while the AED did not need to be used in his case, if he had suffered a heart attack before the ambulance officers arrived, ‘‘the outcome could have been a lot worse’’.
‘‘It was very frightening and stressful. I just want people to be aware of where to go and what to do if they are ever faced with this situation, because time is critical.’’
St John medical director Dr Tony Smith said heart attacks and cardiac arrests could happen to anyone. He advised all Kiwis to learn how to do CPR and use a defibrillator.
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"Anyone could find themselves in a situation where they need an AED, whether for a relative or friend or someone else out in the public."
Chris Irwin
For information on how how to do CPR, use an AED and for AED locations, go to stjohn.org.nz.