Reply: Can an AED save your life?

Fer,

Just a reminder that here in the US the Red Cross offers a combined CPR/AED course which is well worth the time. The instructional video with the HeartStart is good but the course gives some hands on use of the AED. It would also be good for one to have CPR training if one owns an AED.

Don't be fooled by this call for infrastructure spending, the guy you quoted is a notorious big spending politician. Obama and his buddies supposedly spent $1T on infrastructure which actually went mostly to support their union friends, i.e. teachers unions, bailing out UAW union, and public employees unions among others. Obama has increased our national debt by over $8T since he has been in office so I'm skeptical that he can spend more money wisely.

Regards,  Keith

Hi Keith, thanks for the reminded. Indeed, everyone should check http://www.redcross.org/ for nearby first aid traning. The AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is simple enough to use but you should still get at least a basic CPR class.

I dont actually have a problem with spending as long as its done right and to benefit people, rather than doing it do benefit personal friends or themselves directly. Unfortunately, that happens a lot all over the world.

FerFAL

 Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Mad Max: Fury Road – Just Amazing!!

America’s Infrastructure is falling Apart

It seems that the recent train crash in Philadelphia was associated with poor infrastructure since the crash occurred where “there is a curve” in the track.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/train-derailment-renews-debate-us-infrastructure
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) told msnbc this morning:
“It’s a horrible crash, and it just points out again how terrible our nation’s infrastructure is…. If you went to Asia, Europe, and saw the high-speed trains, they’re all on a dedicated line. They’re all straight as an arrow. It’s just embarrassing what we do with our infrastructure.”
The problems with infrastructure is something I am familiar with and have discussed it a few times in the past. After the Argentine 2001 economic collapse, the lack of money for investment and infrastructure was obvious. As months went by potholes popped all over the country, buildings started to look more ran down and yes, trains became more dangerous. In 2012, an accident in the station of Once, Buenos Aires, ended up with 52 dead.
70,000 bridges in America -- one out of every nine -- is now considered to be structurally deficient.
Falling apart: America's neglected infrastructure
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Can an AED save your life?

Someone was asking over at ar15.com:
"Will shock with an AED significantly improve the survival chances of a heart attack victim if hospital care is not immediately available? And how immediate is immediate? 15 minutes, 2 hours, 24 hours?"
AED stands for automated external defibrillator and yes, yes it would. According to the American Red Cross, “Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Over 350,000 people will suffer from sudden cardiac arrest this year .” Keep in mind that the average 911 response time is 8 to 12 minutes and during sudden cardiac arrest, for each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced approximately 10%.
Given that cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in America, an AED is more likely to save you than a gun and pretty much most other gear you have.
Having said all this, common sense still applies. If you’re in your 20s or early 30s and in good health you probably have better things to spend your money on than dropping a grand on an AED. If you’re in your 50 and live in an area where response time isn’t as good as it could be, then you might want to give it some though. If you’re in your +50, have a history of cardiac problems and have little chance of getting first responders to help you in time, then you might want to give it some further thought. At the end of the day, is an AED worth it? That’s up to you to decide.

Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator (AED) $1,199

 

AED are not as expensive as they used to be but we’re still talking some serious money, the one shown above, Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator is available in Amazon goes for 1.200 usd. On the bright side performance has improved considerably in the last few years and they are very easy to use even by the layperson. The AED works automatically, only shocking when necessary after reading the patients heartbeat. Experts at Johns Hopkins claim that “use of the laptop-size devices (AED)by random bystanders more than doubled survival rates among victims felled by a sudden heart stoppage due to a heart attack or errant heart rhythm.” This was back in 2007, with more rudimentary AED technology compared to the one available today.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Nepal hit by second Earthquake, at leas 68 dead

People in Nepal just can’t catch a break. Just days after a devastating 7.8 earthquake a second, 7.2 earthquake hit Nepal today. Dozen have died, adding to the over 8.000 victims from the first one.
Earthquakes aren’t single, isolated events. Typically after such earthquakes, the ground keeps moving for weeks, even months, often several times a day. This is particularly nerve-racking for the victims and it threatens the structural integrity of thousands of buildings already compromised by the first earthquake.
At least 68 dead after another major earthquake centered in Nepal
People, whenever possible, avoid living in Seismic Hazard Zones. If you do so, make sure you’re well prepared for it, both physically and mentally.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.