Stories: “Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime”

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Think Safe will be bringing you emergency and first aid stories on our blog, entitled “Stories”. Employees at Think Safe hear these accounts all the time and we wanted to share these stories with you.

Some of the posted stories will be celebrated successes of how trained staff and appropriate medical equipment has saved a life.

Other stories, such as this one told by Carrie Meyer,  is a story about an unfortunate loss.

Automated External Defibrillator

AEDs are vital life-saving equipment that is often neglected. One of Think Safe’s goals is to raise awareness about the importance of AEDs in all sorts of locations;  schools, gyms, and the work place.  Meyer shared with us the story of a fitness center which did not have an AED available.

I have spent a few weeks now with a fitness center in Colorado in regards to an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for their facility.  They had discussed the placement on one of these life saving units for their business and the manager really saw the value in having the device, although they hoped they would never need to use one.

I was making a follow up call to the fitness center last week and asked the question.”Have you gotten to review the information on the AED for the business?”  The response was not one that I had expected.

The manager said that earlier that week a man went down at their facility, she was the one to administer CPR, but it was not enough.

The gentleman did not make it.

The manager said that she is still trying to calm herself down, she was glad she had the following day off.  She also mentioned to me that she tried to find my number right away but could not find it.

As we were nearly through with our conversation she said, “Carrie, I just really did not think that this would happen at our center.”

The owner and she are now making a serious effort to get an AED into their center.  The phrase of “Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime” comes to mind.

As uncomfortable as it is to have to think about using the device, the fact is that it is a lifesaver.  And I know there is one lady that is forever changed by this experience.

Meyer shares a story that is all too common.  Does your fitness center have an AED?  Does your state require, by law,  to have an AED at a fitness center or gym?

Next time you go in to work out, inquire to the staff about their emergency and first aid training and equipment.  If they don’t, encourage the business to have a trained staff,  first aid supplies and an AED – it could be the difference between life and death!

Wishing you a long and healthy life!

–Think Safe, making minutes matter.