On August 20th, 2004 at approximately 3:48 PM officers from this department received a call over the radio. This was the call that no one ever wants to hear. Officers were told to respond to Weeks Hall located at 1215 W. Dayton Street for a person that was pulse less and not breathing. All persons employed by the University Police Department have been trained in performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s). Since we have placed the AED’s into all of our vehicles, several of us began to respond to the call.
Within minutes of the call several officers arrived at Weeks Hall. We were told to respond to the museum as the victim was located there. Upon my arrival, I observed Officers Heidi Golbach and Peter Grimyser moving the victim and also removing his shirt. Officer Grimyser removed his barrier device from its container so he could use it to perform rescue breaths and Officer Golbach began to attach the AED. I confirmed he had no pulse and was not breathing and other life saving interventions began.
At this time all of us who had responded were in the museum. Sgt. Benjamin Newman and Officer Dan Swanson began to pass out protective gloves and began crowd control efforts. Officer Jean VanDenBogart was present and assisted with crowd control and escorted the fire department to our location. During this time Madison Fire Department Assistant Chief James Keiken also had arrived on the scene to assist.
The AED was attached quickly and began to analyze the victim. When the AED is analyzing it is looking for a specific failing heart rhythm which is known as Ventricular Fibrillation (VF). In this state the heart is just quivering uselessly and interventions are needed to restart the heart. The AED told us “Shock Advised, Charging.” Once the AED was charged it told us “Deliver Shock Now.” I pushed the shock button. After this the AED analyzed the victim again and told us no shock was advised and we needed to check the victim.
Assistant Fire Chief Keiken checked for a pulse and found there was none. I began chest compressions and Officer Grimyser began to give rescue breaths. It was now just over 4 minutes since the call came in and Madison Fire Rescue Paramedic were arriving on scene. Madison Fire personnel removed our equipment and attached their own and we found the victim had a heart rate of 20 beats per minute. This is not enough to effectively sustain a person and I was told to continue with chest compressions. After approximately one more minute of CPR we found that the victim had a pulse rate of about 80 beats per minute. By this time, Madison Fire Paramedics had begun other life saving measures. The victim was making attempts to breathe, but was not breathing adequately, so paramedics continued to assist with breathing. Paramedics continued with his care and transported him to a local Madison Hospital.
The next day we found that the victim was still in critical condition, but was breathing with a heart rate. The doctors called and wanted to know the sequence of events. After the details were explained they were impressed at how fast we were able to respond and begin life saving interventions. They said that the fast response by all was what made the difference in this case. We were able attach the AED and provide a shock to the victim within approximately 3 minutes of his collapse.
The sequence of events that unfolded in this case is what the American Heart Association refers to as the chain of survival. The chain has four links and when each of these steps is followed and is followed fast and effectively, the chance of survival from cardiac arrest is increased. Surviving a cardiac arrest relies on the following:
(1) Early 911 Access (This means immediately calling 911 upon finding and unresponsive adult)
(2) Early CPR
(3) Early Defibrillation
(4) Early Advanced Care
Every step was followed efficiently in the Weeks Hall case and it probably made all the difference. On September 1st Officer Golbach, Grimyser and I had found out that the victim in this case, Arthur Talmadge, was beginning to make a recovery and was up walking around and joking with hospital staff. We went up to meet with Talmadge. I can not put into words what it felt like when I got the chance to meet Mr. Talmadge. He was in great spirits and was joking about everything. He even asked us what had happened and thanked us for our efforts. It was a very special moment and an unbelievable experience that I will never forget.
(Left to Right – Officer Heidi Golbach, Sgt. Michael Newton, Arthur Talmadge &
Officer Peter Grimyser)
AED’s and the University Police Commitment to Campus Safety
Every day nearly 1,000 Americans die at home or work from sudden cardiac arrest. Many of these people are in Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) during the first few minutes of arrest. They have a better chance of survival if the American Heart Association’s chain of survival is started and they get early access to a defibrillator. Today’s AED’s allow automated diagnosis and are easy to use and are being placed in public places all across the country. We are even beginning to see more of them on this campus.
In mid-November 1999 we at the UW Police Department implemented our AED program. Since its inception we have saved three lives. One of these saves occurred shortly after the program began in 1999. At the UW Police Department we originally placed AED’s in six of our marked patrol vehicles. Realizing the large number of people on this campus and how easy AED’s are to use and how effective they are, we decided that we should increase the number that we have at this department and out on campus with us while on patrol. Chief Susan Riseling gave permission for us this year to purchase enough AED’s to put them in all of our vehicles and motorcycles. We also have AED’s that are designated for special events held on campus. We have 26 AED’S currently being used at the UW Police Department. Because of this we now have an even better chance to respond in a faster time frame and a better chance to save the lives of those who may go into cardiac arrest on campus.
(The newest AED placed in UW-Police vehicles)
(AccessAED – By: Access CardioSystems)
Once a heart goes into VF the chances of survival diminish at the rate of 7 – 10 % with each passing minute. With early CPR and Defibrillation usually within 3-5 minutes of collapse, the American Heart Association and other health organizations estimate that approximately 250 deaths could be avoided every day by providing treatment with an AED within those first few minutes after collapse.
In recent years there has been an increased push for police use of AED’s, along with the American Heart Association who has spearheaded a move for AED’s to be placed in more public places. We are now beginning to see more AED’s on this campus. They are in sporting facilities and in the near future you may see them in other places on campus as well. I would strongly encourage everyone to take a CPR class. CPR can save lives or may even buy time until the AED or more advanced life support personnel arrive. For more information on CPR and AED’s you may contact your local American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) or American Heart Association Chapter (www.americanheart.org). If you have any questions or comments you may also contact me at this department.