A Toronto woman helped save the life of a man in cardiac arrest by performing CPR at a west-end gym. According to the actress, a staff member and bystanders did not intervene even though the Goodlife Fitness stated that their employees were trained in CPR and how to use defibrillators.
Saving a life
Alex Jade was working out at a Goodlife Fitness club near Bloor Street West when she noticed that a staff member was carrying a defibrillator and walking casually over a man lying on the gym floor.
The man was on the ground and his face was blue and eyes rolled back. The staff member placed down the defibrillator and took a few steps back and did not even switch it on.
Jade was trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before becoming a flight attendant. She is also an actress who recently returned from the Sundance Film Festival and has starred in two movies.
She knew that a person could end up with permanent brain damage after 4 minutes without oxygen. She quickly switched on the defibrillator, attached the electrodes and delivered a shock. Jade started with the chest compressions for up to 10 minutes until the arrival of the paramedics.
The man was transported to a healthcare facility where he underwent surgery for two blocked arteries. The angioplasty involved the insertion of stents into the arteries to improve the flow of blood to the heart.
Importance of first aid training
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) can save a life. Prompt delivery of life-saving techniques improves the chances of survival during emergencies.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in first aid and CPR course and for more information, check out these sources: