Announcement:
French Hospital Medical Center will be offering
FREE flu shots at the Heart Walk! 
Join us at the 19th Annual San Luis Obispo Heart Walk on September 24, 2011, at the Avila Beach Promenade. Registration begins at 9:00am with the Heart Walk beginning at 10:00am. This 5k event raises awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and empower our community members to take charge of their health. The Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun family environment, while raising critical funds for the fight to end heart disease and stroke.

This valued annual tradition in the San Luis Obispo community, is certain to draw a large crowd. Sign up today, and come walk with us!

Click here for more info

Interview of Gary Buscombe, a sudden cardiac death survivor.    Boy Scouts AED save life in meeting in Tulsa, OK

He was attending a Boy Scouts Meeting, meeting collapsed, and his life was saved as a result of the Boy Scouts  having

an AED on site.

TULSA, OK — Tulsa Boy Scouts live their motto, helping to save the life of one of their own.
Click here to view the article

Assistant Scout Master Gary Buscombe’s heart stopped at a recent scout meeting. That’s when his Troop 26 family jumped into action. Other scout leaders performed CPR on Buscombe and used a defibrillator to restart his heart.

EMSA paramedics say the men’s emergency training and fast action saved Buscombe’s life.

“When you see someone go down and you know that you have to use first aid skills, CPR skills, Boy Scout motto is to be prepared. Mottos don’t mean anything unless you have the skills to back them up,” said Gerald Bradley, Troop 26 Scout Leader.

Troop 26 honored Buscombe at Monday night’s scout meeting with a special lesson on CPR.

Gary later went  out and raised money for a Cardiac Science AED to be donated to his local Elks club.

Gary was visiting the central coast this weekend for a Pi Kappa Tau Fraternity reunion. Several of the fraternity brothers learned how to do “hands only CPR”. Patient Advocate loaned the Fraternity a live Cardiac Science AED for their event at the Mission Inn in Pismo Beach this weekend.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY ABOUT GARY BUSCOMBE

This is just another example of why AED’s need to be placed throughout the community… just like fire extinguishers.

Hands Only CPR
CPR. A lifesaving action.

When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help. Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse. That’s why the AHA has simplified things.
Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help.

It’s not normal to see an adult suddenly collapse, but if you do, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help. Take a minute and look around this site and invite your friends! Increasing the number of people who know about Hands-OnlyTM CPR will increase the chance that someone can help when an adult suddenly collapses, and more lives can be saved.

SOURCE: handsonlycpr.org

Click here to learn more about Hands only CPR

Sacramento – Governor Schwarzenegger has signed Assembly Bill 83 (Feuer/Benoit), legislation which encourages individuals to act as “Good Samaritans” and voluntarily help rescue others in peril. The legislation goes into effect immediately.

Assembly Member Feuer was moved to introduce AB 83 by personal experience. While driving home from work on a Los Angeles freeway we witnessed the driver of a pickup truck swerve and lose control, overturning in traffic. Feuer helped pull the driver and his family from the overturned vehicle while others blocked traffic on the busy freeway.

Now Good Samaritans have no reason to hesitate to responsibly help someone in an emergency out of fear that they might be sued, ” Feuer said. “This legislation encourages Californians to look out for each other at a time when public resources are all too scarce. I’m proud of the broad coalition that came together to make this common sense law possible.” The bill garnered unanimous bi-partisan support in its passage through the Legislature, and it created a broad and unusual alliance of support from law enforcement and rescue agencies, as well as the plaintiffs and defense bars and the American Heart Association.

Assembly member Mike Feuer´s website: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/a42Read the rest of this article from californiachronicle.com

It was supposed to be a typical Saturday for Simi Valley resident Bryan McQueen, but by the end of the day, he had saved a life by being in the right place at the right time with the right set of skills.

McQueen was in the middle of his class when Cameron Hill burst into the room and asked if anyone knew CPR. McQueen immediately stopped his class and checked on Horita, who is in her late 70s.

Horita reportedly had atrial fibrillation and was unconscious and not breathing. McQueen started giving her CPR and continued until firefighters arrived. She was taken to Simi Valley Hospital and has since recovered.

Read the rest of the story from the Ventura County Star

Pismo Beach California had a picture post card day on the 4th of July.
The parking enforcement staff was trained in CPR and AED use. Fortunately they did not have to use their new AED during this holiday weekend. Pismo Beach has AED’s in all the city police cars, as well as having one at city hall, and another one on the Pismo Beach pier.

You Tube Video of Pismo Beach on the 4th of July