Push for Defibrillators at Calif. Schools Growing
July 19--Andrew Jolliff lay on the ground at Hughson High School, unconscious and without a heartbeat.
The 17-year-old student was in the midst of cardiac arrest, and time was running out.
A physical education teacher began cardiopulmonary resuscitation about three minutes after Jolliff collapsed. About two minutes later, firefighters were on scene, bringing Jolliff back to life.
Any longer without a heartbeat and the result could have been disastrous.
"After six minutes of oxygen deprivation to the brain, you start experiencing brain damage," said Hughson Fire Department Capt. Jeff Serpa, who was one of the first responders. "The brain is a very fickle organ. It can't be without oxygen for very long before it starts to die off. Each minute that the brain is without oxygen increases the chances of permanent damage."
Had a defibrillator been on campus, along with staff trained to use the device, Joliff's heart could have been restarted sooner, Serpa said. "The longer the heart is not beating, the greater the chance it will not restart," he said
After Jolliff's experience in November, and the heart-related death this spring of a Gregori High School student on campus, there is growing momentum for schools to have defibrillators on campus.
Serpa said multiple factors contributed to Jolliff's survival: early intervention by the physical education teacher and a fast response from the volunteer firefighters who normally respond from home but happened to be at the station training that day.
That's not always the case.
"That could have been my child," said Serpa, who has two daughters, one in high school. "Everybody in this day and age, if they do fall into sudden cardiac arrest, they shouldn't have to wait (for emergency responders)."
Serpa, also a board member for the fire district, wanted automatic external defibrillators, or AEDs, in every school in Hughson, so he raised the issue at the December meeting. The department pledged $5,000 toward the effort; a few months later, the Hughson Unified School District Matched that.
By May, the city came on board with a $6,000 donation, and an anonymous $10,000 donation brought the Hughson partners close to their goal of purchasing 21 AEDs.
Serpa said another $10,000 is needed before they can make the purchase, which he hopes to get through community donations.
"By placing the AEDs in the building and teaching everyone how to use them and perform CPR, we are empowering the average citizen to get involved at a minimal risk to themselves, and that's what it's all about -- increasing the survival rate," Serpa said.
A defibrillator might have saved the life of a Gregori High School student whose heart stopped after a run during PE class in May.
Modesto City Schools is meeting with Doctors Medical Center officials later this month to discuss a potential partnership to purchase AEDs.
Once the remaining funds are secured in Hughson, the AEDs will be installed not just in the schools but in city facilities, the city's corporation yard, the senior center and Hughson Police Services patrol cars.
The AEDs purchased for the patrol cars will be professional models like the four the Hughson Fire Department will get to replace its outdated models.
The professional models display the patient's heart rhythm and are compatible with the heart monitors used by local ambulance companies.
The Hughson school district had AEDs on its campuses for about five years until 2010, when the ambulance company that provided regular maintenance and training for the devices left the city.
"We were told by our insurance company to take the AEDs out of the sites since we did not have the training program and maintenance of the devices," said Assistant Superintendent Brenda Smith.
Hughson Fire will assume that role, regularly checking batteries and other implements of the device, as well as hosting annual training.
On Aug. 11, the day before school starts, Hughson firefighters will train the district's 250 staff members how and when to use the AEDs and teach hands-only CPR. City staff will be trained a few weeks later.
"By the end of August, we should have roughly 300 people out in the public with the knowledge and the tools to save lives," Serpa said.
First the Hughson partners need to raise an additional $10,000 -- $5,000 for the remaining AEDs and another $5,000 to start a reserve account for replacement batteries and other parts. Serpa said Hughson Police Services will apply for grants to sustain the program after it gets started.
He also hopes to expand the program in the future to businesses and churches.
To donate to the program, send a check or money order to the Hughson Fire Department at 2315 Charles St. Checks can be made payable to the Hughson Fire Department, c/o Community AED Program.
Anyone with questions can call the department at 209-883-2863.
Erin Tracy: 209-578-2366, @ModestoBeeCrime
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