Oct. 19, 2021
It’s a little package about the size of a small child’s backpack, but it is a miracle worker. It brings the dead back to life.
You’ve probably seen the dramatic events on television where there is a Code Blue and the crash cart is rushed in, the doctor grabs the big paddles yell’s “Clear” and applies the paddles to the patient’s chest. The patient’s body bucks as the electrical charge hits and poof the patient’s lifeline goes from the solid straight line to the jagged line that is the proof of life.
The difference between the hospital and movie events and the in-the-field AED event is the drama and usually the lack of a doctor. There is no line tracking the patient and usually no movie camera to capture the survival. This was the case in 2008 when the AED was supplied to Beaverlodge and kept in the arena in the winter and the golf course in the summer was utilized.
In early August 2008 on the 7th tee at the Riverbend Golf and Country Club Beaverlodge realtor Rick Wallan was waiting to tee off when he collapsed. Fortunately, his playing partners didn’t panic and went into action. They recognized right away that Rick was in serious trouble and immediately began CPR called 911 and the clubhouse for the AED machine. Being only a hundred yards from the clubhouse someone came running with the AED. Rick was in serious condition, not breathing and his heart was not beating.
They quickly hooked up the little machine and when it told them to get clear (yes it does speak) and an electric jolt was sent through Rick’s body. No one is entirely sure, but they think it shocked him twice. His friends continued with CPR, the ambulance arrived, and Rick was rushed to the hospital and flown to Edmonton.
A year prior the AED would not have been available as it was given to the community in 2007.
Rick is still in Beaverlodge working as a realtor and was able to watch his three daughters grow up and celebrate the birth of his grandchildren.
48 AED’s were placed in communities across the Western Financial Group network from 2006 through 2014 an investment of over $192K into the communities where our employees, family, friends, and clients live, work, and play.
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