Jordan Myhre, a 19-year-old boy, recently suffered a massive heart attack while training for a triathlon at his local pool. While this incident could have led to Myhre’s tragic untimely death, new medical technology on-hand at the pool enabled those around him to save his life.
The pool had an AED (automated defibrillator) on premises. This machine is used to detect the rhythm of a patient’s heart during cardiac arrest and administer the appropriate shock to resume proper functioning. Myhre received CPR and two shocks from the AED before paramedics arrived.
On the way to the hospital, paramedics employed new medical technology called AutoPulse, which automatically performs CPR on a patient using a band that gets strapped across the chest. This device helped keep Myhre alive until he reached the hospital.
Once at the hospital, Myhre received Arctic Sun treatment, a new body cooling technology which lowered his body temperature to 91 degrees in order to reduce secondary damage caused by the heart attack. Myhre’s body remained at this lowered temperature for approximately 24 hours so that his metabolism could slow to a level that protected brain functioning while allowing the heart time to recover. Hospital staff had just been trained to use this technology very recently; they used it for the first time ever on a patient just two days earlier.
The emergency room doctor who treated Myhre told reporters, “In my 13 years of doing this, I’ve never seen someone this sick walk out of the hospital.” Myhre is currently resting at home, and he is expected to make a full recovery.
If it weren’t for the AED on premises at the pool, it is likely that Myhre may have died before the paramedics arrived to take him to the hospital. These devices are currently being used across the country in places where individuals are more likely to suffer a heart attack in a public place, such as:
- Golf courses
- Airplanes
- Sports stadiums
- Gyms
- Theme parks
- Medical offices
AED treatment can be administered by a trained, non-medical professional, enabling heart attack victims to receive necessary treatment even if there is no medical professional nearby to assist. It is estimated that AEDs currently prevent approximately 50,000 heart attack deaths each year across the United States.
If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack in a public place that did not have an AED on hand to help prevent additional injury or death, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced heart attack injury lawyer to find out if you have a valid claim.
If you have a heart attack injury claim in the West Palm Beach, Florida area, please contact the Florida personal injury law office of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. today to schedule your free initial consultation.
