Heart Safe news: Our weekly update on what’s happening in the world of heart safety and noninvasive cardiology
Actress Brittany Murphy collapses and dies of suspected cardiac arrest
Actress Brittany Murphy died Sunday, apparently a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
Brittany Murphy, 32-year-old star of “8 Mile” and other films, died Sunday morning after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home. She was transported by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her cardiac arrest death is being attributed to natural causes.
News reports said the actress had been taking prescription medication for flu-like symptoms before her death. She collapsed in the bathroom of her home, according to the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County. He said her death appeared to be from natural causes. Murphy’s husband, screenwriter Simon Monjack, had requested that an autopsy not be performed.
Neighbors told the media that emergency services personnel called to the house were seen trying to resuscitate the actress.
Airport AED used to save life at Pittsburgh International
A quick-thinking restaurant employee at Pittsburgh International airport sprang into action Saturday when a man collapsed on a moving walkway. Brad Dougherty, who works at T.G.I. Friday, got one of the airport’s automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and used it. The cardiac arrest victim was treated by paramedics and taken to an area hospital, where he was reported to be “doing well” according to this story and video on ThePittsburghChannel.com.
School AEDs: Screening, AEDs, can prevent sudden cardiac death among young athletes
Dr. Keith Mankowitz, Director of the Sudden Death in Athletes Prevention Program at Washington University, has set up a web page to advise area high schools. Dr. Mankowitz advocates cardiac screenings, good athletic training practices, CPR training for staff, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for school athletic facilities. He writes:
Train your staff to perform cardiac life support and have trained staff available at every practice and sporting event. Purchase a defibrillator and ensure it is readily accessible.
Reporting on Dr. Mankowitz’s new website, KSDK.com notes that the Missouri State High School Athletic Association, which currently recommends AEDs be at sporting events, has discussed making AEDs a requirement.
Billie Stahlschmidt, a motherhose son, D.J. Chastain, collapsed and died during basketball practice at this school in 2006, noted that the school had an AED but kept it locked in an office. It was unavailable when her son collapsed. She noted that D.J. had just passed a school physical. It was later discovered that he had an undiagnosed coronary artery abnormality.
“I am hoping to get a law passed that requires all schools to have AEDs and have them available,” Stahlschmidt told KSDK.com. The full story appears in this KSDK.com video.
Rural AED funding to rise in 2010
Butch Gibbs, rescued using an AED in 2004, asked Congress to fund the rural AED grant program.
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation reports good news for rural communities that need automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill passed in Congress earlier this month increases the funding for the Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices Program. The $2.5 million appropriation sets funding at the highest level since 2005.
Individuals lobbying for the new funding included Butch and Susie Gibbs of Humeston, IA. Their town of 543 people received an AED through the grant program in 2003. In 2004, Butch Gibbs received life-saving shock from that defibrillator — 22 shocks, in fact, before he arrived at a hospital (20 miles away) and was airlifted to a larger hospital is Des Moines. A grateful Gibbs has gone to Washington, D.C., on several occasions to lobby for rural AED grant funding.
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Last 5 posts
- Cardiac Science AEDs in Spain [VIDEO] - April 4th, 2011
- Cardiac Science wins first major public access defibrillation program in Europe - March 30th, 2011
- Georgia Park saves 5 lives with AEDs - March 24th, 2011
- Sad stories, avoidable deaths? - March 23rd, 2011
- Texas school's AED saves 6-year-old's life - March 22nd, 2011
Mon, Dec 21, 2009 |
AEDs