Thank you to all the participants who attended the Double Oak Women’s Club sponsored event “Cars and Coffee.” It was a beautiful Saturday morning for the 50-plus classic cars and hot rods.
Vintage auto collectors and several hundred residents enjoyed talking about cars, visiting with their neighbors and raising funds for an automatic external defibrillator. The entry fees and contributions resulted in a donation to the Double Oak Police Department to purchase and deploy an additional AED in a patrol vehicle (we currently have one AED on patrol).
The OPD AED program began in 2007 with a generous contribution from American Airlines and the support of the town council. Our department receives training and maintenance assistance from the Double Oak Volunteer Fire Department.
In a normal duty year we will have occasion to respond to three or four medical calls in which the patient is in cardiac distress. Almost every officer on the department has had the opportunity to respond to an emergency call with an AED and either perform CPR or at least have the equipment available for one of our emergency medical technicians or paramedics (our volunteers respond amazingly quickly from their homes to assist people in distress).
Time is critical for people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Family members and first responders trained in CPR, along with AED’s, can be vital to the survival of a patient.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it’s not treated within minutes. In fact, each minute of SCA leads to a 10 percent reduction in survival. Using an AED on a person who is having SCA may save the person’s life.
The following information is from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/aed.
Overview
To understand how AEDs work, it helps to understand how the heart works.
The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. With each heartbeat, an electrical signal spreads from the top of the heart to the bottom. As the signal travels, it causes the heart to contract and pump blood. The process repeats with each new heartbeat.
Problems with the electrical system can cause abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Some arrhythmias can cause the heart to stop pumping blood to the body. These arrhythmias cause SCA. The most common cause of SCA is an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation (v-fib). In v-fib, the ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers) don’t beat normally. Instead, they quiver very rapidly and irregularly.
Another arrhythmia that can lead to SCA is ventricular tachycardia. This is a fast, regular beating of the ventricles that may last for only a few seconds or for much longer.
In people who have either of these arrhythmias, an electric shock from an AED can restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Doing CPR on someone having SCA also can improve his or her chance of survival.
AEDs are lightweight, battery-operated, portable devices that are easy to use. Each unit comes with instructions, and the device will even give you voice prompts to let you know if and when you should send a shock to the heart. Learning how to use an AED and taking a CPR course are helpful. However, if trained personnel aren’t available, untrained people also can use an AED to help save someone’s life.
Outlook
Ninety-five percent of people who have SCA die from it — most within minutes. Rapid treatment of SCA with an AED can be lifesaving.
Based upon personal experience I’m absolutely positive the majority of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest never receive CPR or the benefit of an AED. Thank you for giving our first responders one more tool with which to help the community.
Recent Police Calls
Welfare Check – 100 blk. Chinn Chapel Rd., Double Oak – A witness reported a disoriented adult female having problems parking a vehicle and possibly being intoxicated. Officer was unable to locate the subject in Double Oak. Later in the evening subject requested assistance from Highland Village Police and was subsequently transported home.
Disturbance – 1300 blk. Glenview Ln., Bartonville – Dispute amongst family members. No offense documented.
Suspicious Vehicle – 500 blk. Cross timbers Dr., Double Oak – Upon further investigation the driver was delivering welcome baskets to new residents.
Suspicious Activity – 100 blk. Thornhill Circle, Double Oak – A witness reported an older male sleeping on a car. Motorist left before police arrival.
Breach of Computer Security – 200 blk. Kings Rd., Double Oak – Business owner’s computer hacked and customer list utilized to send fraudulent invoices.
Fraud – 3800 blk. Berry Hill Ct., Double Oak – An unknown suspect opened a Verizon account in the complainant’s name and obtained approximately $3,600 worth of cell phones.
Disturbance – 6300 blk. Kings Rd., Double Oak – Road rage incident between adult male motorist and adult female cyclist.
Illegal Dumping / Theft of Service – 8400 blk. Justin Rd., Double Oak – Known subject(s) dumped garbage into a trash container being paid for by another business owner. Officer assisted with identifying the subject and had the trash removed by the offender.
Suspicious Vehicle – 100 blk. Royal Oaks, Double Oak – Caller reported having been followed home by an adult male in a white, extended-cab pickup truck. Suspect was gone prior to officer arrival.
Traffic Complaint – 300 blk. Kings Rd., Double Oak – A motorist reported having almost been hit by a bicyclist.
Accident – 700 blk. Simmons Rd., Double Oak – One car accident. Motorist was distracted while checking email and struck a mailbox.
Animal Complaint – 200 blk. Simmons Rd., Double Oak – Kitten left on callers door step. Kitten turned over to animal control.
Noise Complaint – Chapel Hill and Chinn Chapel – Reports of loud music being played from trucks.
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