Local school district works to improve survival odds of heart attack victims

Noreen Hyslop photo Josh Stearns, at left, who is part of Dexter School District's maintenance crew, is instructed by Stoddard County Ambulance District's Director Dave Cooper, in the proper installation and operation of the district's newest Lifepak system. [Click to enlarge]

Over the past ten years, and especially since the 911 terrorist attack of 2001, special safety measures have been implemented in schools across the country, from the wearing of I.D. tags by school staffs and the installation of security cameras in school halls, to guest sign-in mandates and the issuance of guest labels that indicate a visitor has been processed through the proper channels before being allowed to enter school corridors.

An innovative device, however, has also been making an appearance on school campuses across Stoddard County, and promises ready assistance for a staff member, student, or visitor who may suffer a heart attack on school grounds.

The device itself, a defibrillator, has been around for decades, but became available in recent years in the form of a compact, readily available, user-friendly tool that when properly utilized in the event of a heart attack, saves the victim precious time that may mean the difference between life and death, according to Dave Cooper, Director of Stoddard County Ambulance District.

Dexter's school district is one of several in the county that has bought into the safety devices, referred to as Lifepak 1000s. The district has consistently placed two units per year in various areas on campus over the past few years. Units are now placed in each school and in the district's bus garage, as well as in the field house near the football field.

"It's really an amazing piece of equipment," explains Cooper, who was consulted by the district regarding the purchase.

According to the district's assistant superintendent, Dr. Denny Jarrell, Cooper has been instrumental, as well, in instructing school personnel on the use of the emergency device and the proper maintenance of the units throughout the area.

"It's really a simply operated machine," Cooper says. "It is placed in full view of the public and the staff so that if someone should suffer a heart attack, help is close by."

"The cabinet housing the defibrillator is unlocked and can be easily accessed. Upon removing the unit, and opening up the case, a series of automated verbal commands are issued to the individual or individuals who are attempting to offer medical assistance to the victim."

Defibrillation is a recognized means of terminating certain potentially fatal arrhythmia, according to Cooper, and the device utilizes what was formerly commonly referred to as "paddles" that virtually "jump-start" the heart. The Medtronic Lifepak 1000 defibrillator is an automated external defibrillator (AED) that delivers this energy through disposable defibrillation electrodes applied to the patient's chest.

"There are specially trained individuals within the district who have received instruction in the proper use of the defibrillator," Jarrell says. "Those trained personnel in turn train the school staff, but the procedure is very user-friendly and the verbal commands are extremely comprehensive."

The defibrillators come at a price of about $1500 per unit, a small price to pay, both Cooper and Jarrell agree, for the chance to save a life. Monies for the purchase of the equipment was filtered into the local school system following the Katrina catastrophe. That money was allocated to districts who serviced misplaced victims of the storm.

"Many adult patients in ventricular fibrillation can survive neurologically intact even if defibrillation is performed as late as 6-10 minutes after the cardiac arrest," Cooper attests.

"The speed with which defibrillation is performed is a major determinant of the success of resuscitation attempts."

"When you can offer people those kind of odds," Jarrell says, "then we feel that it's money well spent."

"It's a lot like insurance," Jarrell adds. "It's something that you pay for and hope that you never have to use."