SCA News

People who received detailed audio instructions on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) demonstrated better compression rate, hand placement and compression depth than those who did not receive recorded instructions by cell phone. The results of the study are published today online in Annals of Emergency Medicine (“Cell Telephone Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Audio Instructions When Needed by Lay Rescuers: A Randomized, Controlled Trial”).

Public access defibrillation advocate, Jack Grogan, 73, collapsed at the San Jose International Airport on Sunday upon his return from a trip to Washington, D.C. Bystanders immediately started CPR, and Grogan's son, Dale, who was there to meet his father, used a nearby automated external defibrillator (AED). Despite this and immediate response by airport emergency services, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. 

Grogan had become active in national, state and local initiatives to raise awareness about SCA following an earlier brush with death in 2002 at the Chicago O’Hare Airport. This time, a passenger and flight attendant revived him with CPR and use of an AED.

PITTSBURGH–Dana Peres Edelson, MD, MS, has been elected to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Board of Directors. Dr. Edelson is Director of Clinical Research at the University of Chicago's Emergency Resuscitation Center and Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.

"We are delighted that Dr. Edelson will be joining our team," said Bobby Khan, MD, PhD, Board Chair. "We are very impressed with her expertise and distinguished honors and awards. Dr. Edelson will be a tremendous asset to our organization as we continue to raise awareness and save lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest."

Dr. Edelson, who has been called "a rising star" by her colleagues, was recognized as the American Heart Association Resuscitation Science Symposium Young Investigator of the Year in 2005 and 2007.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney's recent hospitalization for chest pains puts a spotlight on heart disease — the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States.

The 69-year-old Republican, who served as Vice President from 2001 to 2009 in the administration of George W. Bush, was said to be resting comfortably Monday at George Washington Hospital, Washington D.C.

"His doctors are evaluating the situation," a statement from his office said.

PHOENIX -- A Phoenix police officer used a defibrillator to help save a passenger's life at Sky Harbor International Airport Monday morning.

According to an airport spokeswoman, a 50-year-old passenger collapsed in line at a security checkpoint at 5:35 a.m. Phoenix police Officer Brian Warren responded to the scene and found the passenger not breathing. Two witnesses, who happened to be nurses, were performing CPR. Warren reportedly used an Airport automated external defibrillator (AED) to shock the unidentified passenger one time. Phoenix police Officers Kim Walsh, Tim Essick and Paul Rooks arrived and took turns administering CPR. Phoenix firefighters transported the patient to the hospital in critical condition.

REDMOND, WASH.– Physio‐Control Inc., a wholly‐owned subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), announced today it received notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that having successfully met requirements for improvements to the quality system, the company may resume unrestricted worldwide shipments of its external defibrillators.

In May 2008, Physio‐Control signed a Consent Decree with the FDA to address issues the Agency raised during inspections of the company’s quality system. Under the terms of this agreement, Physio‐Control was permitted to ship a limited number of products to emergency care providers to meet public health and safety needs until quality system improvements were completed.

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY-- Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus and Commissioner of Health Michael C. Caldwell presented the three newest HEART Safe Community designations today at the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, including Dutchess County’s first two municipality wide HEART Safe designations for the Town and Village of Rhinebeck.

Cardiac Science is in Ongoing Discussions with FDA

BOTHELL, WA --  Medical devices maker Cardiac Science Corp. (CSCX: News ) recently received a warning letter from the United States Food and Drug Administration, which notes inadequacies in the voluntary field corrective action announced by the company on November 13, 2009 relating to a component issue, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday.

After having inspected the company in the third quarter of 2009, the agency says the company is not in compliance with various Current Good Manufacturing Practice, or CGMP, requirements under applicable FDA regulations.

FORT WAYNE, Ind.--Some good samaritans and a small medical device are getting credit for saving the life of a pregnant Fort Wayne mother.While jogging on a treadmill last Tuesday, Lisa Wood's heart suddenly stopped. She says she never felt pain, but noticed a faster heart rate before going unconscious.

YMCA employee Ryan Quandt was on duty when he heard the YMCA alarm. He immediately left his station and quickly grabbed an Automated External Defibrillator or AED. The device sends an electrical shock to the heart to get it beating again. Within minutes, Quandt and an off duty Fort Wayne firefighter were able to bring Wood back.

"I was just thinking about what I had to do. And hoping I didn't mess it up," Quandt remembered.

The small machine not only saved Wood, but her baby too. She is nearly five months pregnant.