Iowa program monitors firefighters for cardiac stress at the scene of a fire

The number one cause of firefighter death at the scene of a fire is not burns or collapsing buildings but sudden cardiac death. Smoke, heat, and extreme exertion can all be factors.

In Algona, Iowa, the fire department and ambulance team are developing an innovative ambulance-based program to detect abnormalities in firefighters firefighters’ blood pressure and baseline heart data at the scene of a fire. Currently, the program is being developed using a fire incident simulator. Firefighters get a check with a blood pressure monitor and a 12-lead EKG to gather baseline data before they go into the simulator. After fighting the fire, they return to the ambulance for comparison tests.

“We hope the program allows us to act on (cardiac) changes before someone goes down,” Algona Ambulance Director Russ Piehl told the Mid-Iowa News. “The faster a heart attack is treated, the less damage there is to the heart.”

The Economist weighs in on costs/benefits of EMR

“Technology has been the culprit behind runaway health costs,” says the Economist. “It might now cure them.” A special report on technology and medicine is available, with sections including one on EMR systems. Among the technology the Economist puts faith in?  Personal medical monitors linked to EMR systems.

Investment in EMR pays off for physicians

Fewer than 20 percent of physician practices use electronic medical records systems, and fewer than 1.5 percent of U.S. hospitals have patient records full computerized in a comprehensive information system. Federal investment in electronic medical records systems for doctors offices and hospitals is on its way, but physicians and hospitals will still bear considerable costs.

The Herald Tribune writes about a Sarasota, Florida, practice that’s ahead of the trend, investing $70,000 per physician to become full computerized. And explains why these doctors think it’s well worth it.

Confiscated drug money equips police with AEDs

The police department in Boardman, Ohio, thought outside the box when it came to finding money in the budget to equip their cruisers with life-saving automated external defibrillators.

Vindy.com, a local news site, reports that the department is made an AED purchase using money seized from area drug dealers.

AED saves a teen ballplayer’s life in Boca Raton

Teenage sudden cardiac arrest victim Claire Dunlap remains hospitalized, but her family is cautiously optimistic that the young softball player will survive. She collapsed on the field shortly after her team finished their game in Boca Raton, Florida, on Wednesday.

Off-duty firefighter Ricky Grau restarted Dunlap’s heart, administering a shock using the AED (automated electronic defibrillator) an athletic trainer had at the field.

“The key to why the girl is alive is they had an AED there,” Grau said. “I personally don’t think she would’ve made it without it.”

Database of defibrillators lets 911 direct callers to nearby AEDs
Again and again, an automated external defibrillator saves a life in the critical few minutes after sudden cardiac arrest. In Boston, the city’s Emergency Medical Services have a new program that will help rescuers locate the nearest AED.

The Boston Globe reports that the city’s 911 operators now have access to a database of more than 600 defibrillators in the city. When callers report an incident of sudden cardiac arrest, dispatchers will be able to tell them where to find an AED to use while emergency medical services personnel are en route.

Community skate park makes an AED part of the program

A new state-of-the-art skate park offers Rocklin, California, youngsters offers a spacious “plaza style” terrain, national amateur competitions, fake grass, stair sets, and a huge wood skating “bowl” — and its own onsite AED.

The husband and wife who run Epic Indoor Skatepark park are both trained in CPR, and they felt having an automated external defibrillator available was important.

Last 5 posts by Joe Hage

• Dave Marver on Cardiac Science Quality - February 8th, 2010
• Arizona defibrillator rescue: City of Yuma recognizes golf pro who used Powerheart AED - February 4th, 2010
• EHR/EMR use on the rise, Federal health IT leader notes - February 3rd, 2010
• Obama's priorities shift away from healthcare: Cardiac Science for the week of Feb. 1 - February 1st, 2010
• New York AED bill would mandate CPR, defibrillator training for teachers - January 26th, 2010