On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

I do not carry a defibrillator on board yet.
I carry Nitro spray. Hopefully the Nitro spray can be used before a need
arises for a defibrillator.
They say you do not keep to be trained to use one. That remains to be seen.
I am due for an update on my marine first aid in about 12 months.
I do not recall having had any training on defibrillator yet.
At this time, I think on any cruising convoy the last boat that carry the
spares should be carrying a defibrillator on board with the proper training
to use it.

wrote in message
...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

I do not carry a defibrillator on board yet.
I carry Nitro spray. Hopefully the Nitro spray can be used before a need
arises for a defibrillator.
They say you do not keep to be trained to use one. That remains to be
seen.
I am due for an update on my marine first aid in about 12 months.
I do not recall having had any training on defibrillator yet.
At this time, I think on any cruising convoy the last boat that carry the
spares should be carrying a defibrillator on board with the proper
training to use it.

These new Automatic defibrillators are supposed to be smart.
Once the patient is connected to the machine it will read and analysed the
vital signs.
Then it will trigger the necessary action for the machine. In practice,
they say if you can get there within 10 minutes there is a 40 % chance of
resuscitating the patient.
Now every one is very enthusiasm about this machine. The police cars,
hockey arenas and the like are all getting equipped and trained to use this
automatic defibrillator.
The other side is "the legal aspect". I remember one evening when we were
doing our very best to resuscitate a man that had a massive heart attack.
After doing all what we could with the current knowledge and equipment of
those days the family doctor came in. He told us to stop because the man
was death. Immediately after the doctor's statement the wife and kids all
jump on us saying you kill him you kill him. Luckily the family doctor told
the wife and kids that nothing could have been done because we arrived too
late, they then calm down. Maybe if we would have been called earlier we
could have done something.
Nevertheless it did traumatise me.
So legal aspect will have to be cleared up accordingly. Otherwise some good
Samaritans could be suit for wrong doing.

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 16:20:56 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

The fully auto units require no training at all - automatic with
step-by-step instructions including on one that I know of,
instructions for CPR.

As to size, not much bigger than a really good emergency med kit.

I was just curious because I was checking mine over and changing out
the pads for new ones. I couldn't remember if I had asked the
question before.

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night ..


============
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 16:20:56 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

The fully auto units require no training at all - automatic with
step-by-step instructions including on one that I know of,
instructions for CPR.

As to size, not much bigger than a really good emergency med kit.

I was just curious because I was checking mine over and changing out
the pads for new ones. I couldn't remember if I had asked the
question before.

Could you give us the approximate cost of purchasing one Automatic
defibrillator.
How do they have to be stored and do they require periodical inspection and
calibration.

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:20:31 GMT, wrote:

So legal aspect will have to be cleared up accordingly. Otherwise some good
Samaritans could be suit for wrong doing.

I'm not exactly sure where you live, but states have Good Samaritan
laws. As long as you help in good faith, and the simple fact that you
help is evidence of good faith, you are in the clear. In most states,
any legal filing related to emergency medical treatment has to pass a
medical review board and as long as it was in good faith, they never
pass it through to the courts. If you have emergency medical
training, the only criteria is that you don't exceed the limits of the
training - like giving a cardiac patient a drug or start an IV if your
training is at the First Responder or EMT-Basic level.

I have personal experience with this so I'm fairly familiar with the
process. :)

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:36:19 GMT, wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 16:20:56 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:26:16 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

How many of you cruisers carry an automatic defibrillator onboard as
part of your emergency medical supplies?

I've heard of a few but I'm not yet among them. How much training is
required to use them correctly, and how large are they?

The fully auto units require no training at all - automatic with
step-by-step instructions including on one that I know of,
instructions for CPR.

As to size, not much bigger than a really good emergency med kit.

I was just curious because I was checking mine over and changing out
the pads for new ones. I couldn't remember if I had asked the
question before.

Could you give us the approximate cost of purchasing one Automatic
defibrillator.

Depends on the model. A very basic AED is about $800. One like I
have is in the $1800 range, but it has some features that base AEDs
don't have - like rhythm display and I can change the settings based
on different parameters.

How do they have to be stored and do they require periodical inspection and
calibration.

Our local hospital tech department handles that every year at no
charge for Fire/Rescue/Police personnel. I have to be honest, I don't
know about ones that are owned by private groups. I can check on that
and get back to you.

On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:20:31 +0000, marierdj wrote:


So legal aspect will have to be cleared up accordingly. Otherwise some
good Samaritans could be suit for wrong doing.

Most states have Good Samaritan Laws protecting rescuers, although some
require training before using defibrillators.

http://www.momsteam.com/alpha/featur...reness_center/
good_samaritan_laws.shtml

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:20:31 GMT, wrote:

So legal aspect will have to be cleared up accordingly. Otherwise some
good
Samaritans could be suit for wrong doing.

I'm not exactly sure where you live, but states have Good Samaritan
laws. As long as you help in good faith, and the simple fact that you
help is evidence of good faith, you are in the clear. In most states,
any legal filing related to emergency medical treatment has to pass a
medical review board and as long as it was in good faith, they never
pass it through to the courts. If you have emergency medical
training, the only criteria is that you don't exceed the limits of the
training - like giving a cardiac patient a drug or start an IV if your
training is at the First Responder or EMT-Basic level.

I have personal experience with this so I'm fairly familiar with the
process. :)

Thanks for your input.
In Canada, as you have stated, you don't exceed the limits of your training.
I only have first aid training which I have to re-qualify every three years
or as required.
I am due for March 2008. This training does not allow us to administer
cardiac drug or sugar.
With your qualifications you may use the good Samaritans clause better than
the average citizen.
Today even the qualified Emergency physician is not immune against law suit.
Not to mention that, as a teenager I have already been in court to answer
questions relate to first aid given to a dying elderly night watchmen. With
the assistance of my father's lawyer I was cleared of any wrong doing.
Nevertheless It left a bad memory.
In Canada the father's approach and the good Samaritans laws are in used.
The problem is that, at time, you may get challenged.