This month, the CPR & First Aid Blog catches up with Jon Gorman, RN, member of the New England ECC Regional Committee board and 25-year healthcare veteran. 

Jon Gorman sets up for a community CPR demonstration.

Jon, thank you so much for speaking with us today. Would you give us a brief summary of your background?

Sure… I am an RN with a history of working in open heart, telemetry, and ICU settings. I work with Harrington Healthcare System in Central Massachusetts.

How did you come to work with the New England ECC Regional Committee?

When I was in school, I experienced a pretty traumatic incident: my father suffered massive cardiac arrest and came in to the emergency room as a patient while I was working my shift. My poor mother had found him at home in the chair and called 911, but sadly he was gone before he arrived at the hospital. The ordeal gave me a real motivation to not want this to happen to anyone else.

That’s when I signed on to be a Hands-Only CPR volunteer trainer with ECC. I wanted to help save lives both inside and outside of the hospital.

Talk to me about Hands-Only CPR. How is it different than other CPR methods? Is it something anyone can do?

Hands-Only CPR is the kind of CPR, focusing on chest compressions, that we see in the movies and on TV. It is what most of us know to do until EMS arrives, and it dramatically increases the chances of someone will survive. However, training in conventional CPR is important so that people are confident and get it right when it matters.

Tell us about your “Big E Fair” event. I hear that it was an extraordinary day. 

It’s never too early to learn CPR. Here, Jon Gorman instructs two children on HOCPR.

It really was. We hosted a tent at the Massachusetts Day celebration, and as people came by we introduced them to Hands-Only CPR. We tried to make it something quick and easy that people shouldn’t be afraid of. We had manikins for people to practice on, and wound up training more than 750 people that day. It was a long day!

What was so incredible though was what happened after. We got a call informing us that three different people at the event had gone into cardiac arrest on-site. When the EMS arrived at each of those three scenes, members of the public were there with the victims doing chest compressions. Incredibly, people who had been by our tent and learned chest compressions were able to put their skills to use to save a life that very same day. It gives me goosebumps.

That’s incredible! It really drives home the importance of not only learning these skills, but probably refreshing them from time to time.

Absolutely. If you can take a class, that’s great. You should. But even the free demonstrations at your local health fair can be enough to save a life.

Great tip. Thank you so much Jon for sharing your time and insights with the CPR & First Aid Blog.

This blog was written by Gregory Schreppel, a survivor of cardiac arrest thanks to immediate bystander CPR. 

Gregory with family, EMS personnel and off-duty nurse who delivered care at the 2016 Johnson County HeartSafe Heroes Celebration. Left to Right: Son Corbyn Schreppel, son Brayden Schreppel, Heather Schreppel, Paramedic Sarah Grass and her children Emma and Olivia (in her arms), Gregory Schreppel, Paramedic Gregg Bollella, off-duty nurse Kim Dubrow with her son and husband.

A Home Depot store in Olathe, Kansas was the scene where I crossed paths with kind strangers, Hands-Only CPR and emergency personnel in December 2015. I was in the market for underground electrical conduit for the home my family was building and stopped by our local store on a Saturday morning. While consulting with a store employee, the employee noticed I didn’t look well and urged me to take a seat. Shortly thereafter, a woman who happened to be an off-duty nurse passed down the aisle and noticed some unusual activity. Thinking I was having a seizure, she helped me to the floor. She soon determined I was indeed in cardiac arrest and began chest compressions while the Home Depot store manager called 9-1-1.

When the Olathe Fire Department and MED-ACT personnel arrived, they assumed responsibility for my care and found me in ventricular fibrillation; immediately, they used an AED to deliver a shock. Over the span of 19 minutes, a total of six shocks were delivered. At the same time, an Olathe police officer was able to reach my wife Heather to inform her of the situation, and to which hospital they would be transporting me.

As the ambulance approached the nearby hospital, I lost my pulse again and emergency personnel resumed chest compressions. I survived the cardiac arrest, and the next day, underwent surgery for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). I continue to have what Heather describes as “episodes,” which require shocks from the ICD. It causes a few anxious moments for me, but I’ve gotten to the point where I can anticipate a shock delivery.

I’m doing well today. This experience heightened my awareness of the critical role bystander Hands-Only CPR plays in saving lives. The two steps of this lifesaving skill, call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest, were performed without hesitation by the off-duty nurse and Home Depot store manager. If they hadn’t intervened, emergency personnel would have arrived at a drastically different scene. I’m grateful to the men and women who came to my aid that Saturday morning and that my life was in their experienced and capable hands.

I recommend that everyone learn more about Hands-Only CPR and find an AHA training course on CPR and AEDs. Cardiac arrest can happen any place, any time, so take steps to ensure you’re prepared to potentially help save a life.

The following story originally ran on AHA News June 1.

When Manny Medina was 16, he didn’t know or care much about emergency cardiovascular care as he walked into a CPR class at his high school in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

“But then I pulled out the (defibrillator) pads and all of a sudden I felt like I was on TV on an episode of ER … I felt empowered to go into the medical field and help people,” said Medina, who’s now 31. “It turns out that one class changed the path of my entire life.”

Now a CPR instructor and teacher-trainer based in San Diego, Medina volunteers for American Heart Association, both as a teacher and a community spokesperson. “CPR training has always been very close to my heart,’’ he said. “I really want to help people, especially young people, make a difference.”

From June 1 – 7, the AHA celebrates National CPR and AED Awareness Week, an annual event designed to promote CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) education and save lives. More than 350,000 people have cardiac arrests out-of-hospital every year in the U.S., but only 46 percent of them get the immediate help they need before professional help arrives. CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival, especially if it’s performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest.

Medina’s CPR class in high school inspired him to become a certified paramedic. But after a few years on the job, he developed a stress-induced seizure disorder, and his neurologist told him he should find a less-stressful occupation.

The news left him feeling “defeated” at first, Medina says. But as he transitioned from being a paramedic into a CPR instructor, he got excited about teaching people of all ages and backgrounds how to save someone’s life.

“Manny is extremely dedicated, and his positive energy is contagious,” said Alexander Gonzalez, a paramedic who mentored Medina. “He has a passion for learning as much as he can … he delivers the most exceptional education no matter what course he’s presenting.”

Today, Medina takes particular pride in teaching CPR in high-risk Latino neighborhoods.

“That statistic shook me to the core,” he said. “I grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, and in that community, sometimes people don’t have the skills or the experience (to perform CPR), or they have language barriers that make it hard to call for help.”

Medina said he’s equally passionate about teaching CPR to young people. He’s in the process of setting up his own CPR training center geared toward youth, and he’s thrilled to see more U.S. states requiring CPR courses for high school students. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia now require CPR training to graduate high school.

“It’s exciting to see this whole new generation of people taking CPR classes. The millennials are embracing it — they really want to learn,” said Medina, who encourages his CPR students to download PulsePoint, a phone app that helps bystanders assist people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

“I try to teach them new ways of absorbing information,” he said. “I really want to empower kids at a young age and inspire them the same way that first CPR class inspired me. I want them to learn the skills so they can go out and have an impact on their community and make a difference – even if it’s only one time in their life.”

What does EMS week mean to you?

This week is an opportunity to recognize and acknowledge the efforts of EMS providers in our communities. It also allows these professionals to educate the public about the crucial functions we perform.

AHA volunteer Jeff Woodin reflects on his 25-year career as a paramedic during EMS Week 2017. #EMSstrong

Would you please explain the importance of this year’s theme, “EMS Strong: Always in Service?”

Strength comes in multiple forms: physical, mental, emotional. It is also resilience in the face of adversity, all attributes of EMS providers. Whether EMS providers are career or volunteer, they are on duty 24/7 to respond to every call. They serve and protect often with the chance of facing danger – inclement weather, a chemical or electrical hazard, a physical assault or even the possibility of death.

How did you become involved in EMS and what lessons have you drawn from it?

I initially became involved when I purchased my first home. Although there were three fire stations in our town, there was only one firefighter. First, I became a volunteer firefighter and an EMT. That was 25 years ago. I then went on to paramedic school and became a professional firefighter/paramedic.

As a result of this career, I have become a better person in many aspects. It has taught me that first impressions aren’t always correct, and we all make mistakes and deserve a second chance. I’m a better listener, try to be non-judgmental, and put others before myself at times.

What drives your passion for EMS? 

At the top of my list is helping others during their time of need and just letting them know that someone cares.

My passion also comes from helping the people I serve and those with whom I’ve had the honor to work with. I’ve had great mentors in my life: my parents, family, coworkers and peers from the AHA, ILCOR and NAEMSP.

My personal desire to give back to the community, the opportunity to witness the evolution from consensus medicine to evidence-based medicine, and involving myself in that research also drive my passion.

What role does EMS play in successful outcomes for patient resuscitation? 

EMS providers are involved in all levels of a resuscitation, from teaching a CPR or First Aid class to providing advanced life support to a patient. Additionally, EMS is found throughout the AHA’s chain of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

What don’t people realize about the EMS profession?

Most people don’t know what we actually do. It’s not what is portrayed on television or in the movies. EMS providers choose this career, and they and their families make great sacrifices. They leave to answer the call in the middle of dinner or a child’s birthday party, holidays away from home; work irregular schedules; suffer sleep deprivation and increased cancer risk for firefighters. And those are just a few.

And this is important. Yes, we’re trained. However, many people don’t realize that with minimal time and training on their part, such as taking a CPR or First Aid course, they can save a life.

AHA volunteer Beth Mancini speaks with ECC about her career as a nurse and nurse educator and her vision for the profession’s future.

What does Nurses Week mean to you?

This week reminds us of the importance of nurses and their roles in maximizing the health of individuals, families, and communities. Specifically, for nurses, it provides a time to reflect on why we do what we do and how we can execute our jobs in more impactful ways.

During this week, I always engage in personal reflection and plan how I can improve my practice and strengthen my commitment to the profession in the coming year.

Would you please touch on the importance of this year’s theme, “Nursing: The Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit”?

Balance is critical, especially when we apply this notion to nurses. We can’t give to others what we haven’t taken the time to develop within ourselves. If we intentionally seek balance, we are more likely to stay and grow in the profession.

For me, achieving balance means assuring I reflect on my actions and goals, as well as spending time with my family. They are my source of strength and commitment to improving health and wellness not only for myself, but for society in general.  

How has your nursing education lead you to where you are now in your professional career?

I entered the profession with an associate’s degree in nursing. As I sought more knowledge and the opportunity to enhance my skills, I went on to obtain a BSN, an MSN in Nursing Administration and a PhD in Public Administration. Along the way, I intentionally considered my professional goals and sought degrees that would provide me with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to achieve these goals.

Acquiring credentials is not the goal— I seek to be able to practice nursing tomorrow in a manner different than we do today. Over the next decade, there will be increasing demand for nurses, and we must be willing to question the status quo when educating individuals entering the profession while assuring the caliber of competency and continuation of lifelong learning.  

What is your greatest takeaway from involvement in the nursing world?

I think the most important takeaway is that life is precious—every day is a gift. We need to live life to the fullest and say “thank you” and “I love you” to people in our lives.

What are steps non-profit organizations can take to improve access to and quality of care?

I think organizations such as AHA can focus on leading the policy discussions towards managing outcomes by using big data and creating patient value. To improve care will cost money— by using available data, we can find the most efficient way to do so. It is important that we do not simply advocate to do the right things, but rather articulate and help steer other organizations in the right direction.

I have been a volunteer with AHA for more than 30 years. Before inter-professional collaboration was in vogue, AHA embraced it as a core value. Bringing together nurses, physicians, paramedics, pharmacists, and other professionals is just the way the organization operates.

Blog authored by David Martinez, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) signal maintainer, New York

David Martinez receives the New York Daily News “Hometown Hero in Transit Award” at April 6, 2017 ceremony in New York.

One man, reading one article and watching one video on CPR, one time… this sums up what prepared me to help save a life.

I’ve been a signal maintainer with the MTA for 17 years. During my tenure, I’ve never had to come to the aid of coworkers as a result of an accident or emergency. Last October, I was put to the test.

It was a typical day, nothing unusual. My fellow co-workers and I were in the middle of performing routine signal maintenance inside the 145^th Street subway station when a normal day turned into an emergency in seconds. As we were leaving the site and removing warning flags, I suddenly heard a shout to call the control center to turn off power.

Two co-workers, one being Monique Brathwaite, were retrieving flags when a train arrived into the station, prompting them to clear the area. Upon arriving at their location, I discovered that Monique had fallen on to the third rail of the track and was struck by a tremendous surge of electricity. My heart was racing and I was sweating profusely, fearing what was before me.

Monique was face down, her head underneath the third rail, smoke rising from her body.  A sight that left me panic-stricken and pacing in front of her. Scared, and probably in a bit of shock, I didn’t know what to do. Thinking she was probably dead, I inched closer to her, all the while thinking about her small children. And then to my disbelief, I saw the slightest movement! I screamed to my co-workers, “She’s alive!”

After confirming the power was turned off, we moved her to a safe area, and then what happened next is credited to my daily habit during my subway commute to work.  Without fail, I read The Washington Post every day on my Kindle. Last July, I stumbled across an article on Hands-Only CPR, a type of CPR that relies only on chest compressions, as well as an accompanying 90-second video, which was produced by the American Heart Association with support from the Anthem Foundation. The video demonstrated how to perform the skill using the Bee Gees’ song, “Stayin’ Alive” as a rhythmic guide. I read the article and watched the video. One time. My memory went into overdrive as I looked down at Monique’s face and lifeless body.

Fear and panic were no longer consuming my mind, but instead everything that I read and watched on Hands-Only CPR just a few months prior. With the beat and lyrics of “Stayin’ Alive” ringing in my ears, I performed compressions for about a minute, and she opened her mouth and eyes. With encouragement from my coworkers, I continued the compressions for another 15 minutes until emergency help arrived.

I recently read an American Heart Association article that shared eye-opening statistics regarding Hands-Only CPR perceptions in minority communities. Many in these communities are afraid to perform CPR for fear of causing injury or believe it requires special training. These two reasons may support another statistic I learned; 30 to 50 percent of African-Americans and Hispanics do not have CPR performed on them in an emergency.

Luckily, Monique and I aren’t counted in these statistics. I saved her life. What a great feeling! She’s still recovering from her injuries, and has a long road ahead, but will be present for those important milestones her children will one day experience.

I encourage everyone to learn CPR. The Hands-Only CPR video that I watched is a great start. The American Heart Association has a number of training resources available and even has a program called “EmPOWERED to Serve” where you can get involved in minority communities to improve health outcomes.

I was empowered by simply reading one article and watching one video, one time. And I’m honored and proud that the New York Daily News recognized me earlier this month with its “Hometown Hero in Transit Award” for my actions. The true honor… knowing that my actions made the difference in my friend living to see another day.

This is an interview with Tammy Turning, a member of EdCor’s Training Center faculty. 

Can you tell me a little bit about the history of EdCor?
EdCor was started as a site in 2004 by my mother, Midge Burrows, and has been a center for almost four years now. We took what we learned from being a site and combined it with our projected goals for Edcor to form a center that can better support our instructors. We are focused on how to keep the instructors a top priority and how we can maintain and further develop that relationship.

Could you talk about your partnership with the American Heart Association?
I work with AHA’s training center to make sure that the instructors are number one: trained with quality education, and number two: that they following the AHA guidelines. My job is to ensure that these things are happening and if not, I offer support to ensure they do in addition to providing relevant and helpful feedback.

The new wave for instructor forums is looking more and more to the community and their needs. For example, every 6-8 weeks, we have an open forum where instructors are invited to attend and discuss what’s on their mind. We are the frontline to help bridge the gap between the instructors and AHA. We make sure that everything that AHA wants to go into the curriculum, does.

Could you please explain the resources EdCor offers that help create an exceptional customer service experience?
A lot of the time, we will have new graduates come through our program who have limited experience in application of the skills they have learned. To assist with this, we allow that they can come back and audit that class within the first few years to be a part of re-learning.

In addition to providing free refreshers, we create resource books for instructors that can be found on our online forum. We are highly communicative—so we say—with AHA regarding the curriculum changes and how we can work together to accomplish our similar goals if something isn’t working.

EdCor also participates in a lot of community awareness within our training for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. I think it’s important that we provide those services within our community so that everyone can be part of learning these lifesaving skills.

Could you tell me more about how you connect with your instructors?

It’s obvious there has been a huge shift in how people obtain information and we believe that adapting to change is extremely important. That’s why we use social media and digital outlets extensively. The thing EdCor really tries to focus on is mentoring and supporting our instructors. I don’t want to forget about that instructor space and I don’t want to lose that connection with who they are. That’s the only way that I feel like I’m effectively doing my job.

What are your goals for the growth of EdCor?
This company was started because my mother felt that quality education needed to meet people where they’re at. Right now we are looking at how to reach and impact the new generation of instructors. I’m all for breathing new life into something, and am determined to show students that the material they are learning and teaching can be exciting. I feel strongly that what AHA is trying to do is directly aligned with our mission—to educate from the heart.

What inspired you to become a CPR, First Aid and AED Instructor?

I started out 36 years ago as a paramedic inside a firefighting unit, teaching my colleagues CPR in order

Sherrie Wilson, paramedic and firefighter, has been instructing students in CPR for 36 years.

to keep credentials current. One day, a firefighter asked me to help him teach a class away from the department. It made me realize that I could expand my mission to save lives. I chose to focus on the independent instructors and entrepreneurs – the so-called “little guys.” Now I have more than 644 instructors in 32 states with many national clients. For me, operating a successful business is the impossible come true because of hard work and dedication to the mission.

Who has influenced you in particular?

So many people have a hand in my growth over the years, but there are a few who stand apart:

• AHA Territory Director Susan Montalvo was my first ECC manager, a real leader. She believed in people and challenged me to be the best in the business. Because of her I feel that I am living up to that challenge.
• Mike Murrow in the AHA international training division invited me to go to Mexico and roll out training with him. He taught me advanced courses and he built up my confidence so that I could stand toe-to-toe with physicians and inquisitive students. He knew the subject cold, and he pushed me out of my comfort zone.
• Sam Wilson, my spouse. He just kept blowing the wind beneath me. He believed in me.

One of the many classes Sherrie teaches weekly.

What are the top things do you want your students to remember when they leave your class?

1. High quality CPR
2. In an emergency situation, ask yourself–did you try? Did you come outside of yourself, your fears, your stories in your head, and get over there with another person and try to save their life? Sometimes emergency situations don’t go the way we hope for so, regardless of outcome, it is important to always try your hardest.
3. I want them to have a “feel good” experience with emergency response. It is not what you say or do, it’s about how you made someone feel.
4. Everyone who takes my class is upping their game to include saving lives. They are heroes in their own lives.

What are some challenges you regularly face at work?

Compliance is always a factor in this business. People want to teach but they want to take shortcuts, not always following the rules, not buying books or cutting a course short to fit their schedule. I teach integrity and leadership to my instructor network because when you live with integrity, you sleep well and you are proud of what you do. It is important to not only have integrity in this business, but additionally, to do it very well and the way it was intended to be done. My goal in the next year is to double the size of my Training Center, then triple it after that, all the while maintaining a high degree of integrity with the AHA.

What was one of your most defining moments in life?

My dream was always to save lives and I did that by becoming the first female firefighter in the Dallas Fire Department. Whether on duty or off, saving lives is what “juices” me, excites me and keeping the blood flowing through my veins. I now have a book and a screen play that is being optioned about this. I am always thinking about what the next big thing is and how to take it from impossible dream to completed miracle.

If you had a motto, what would that be?

“The first ingredient of a miracle is an impossible situation.” I really believe that if people take a moment and consider the possibilities and use faith inside of an impossible situation, they will begin to see the miracles around them. The AHA does this around the idea of cardiac arrest. I do this around nearly every area my life. Fear is the fire – and faith puts the fire out.

This blog was written by Mary Rasmussen, AHA Vice President, CPR & First Aid, Field Operations. 

Although my current work is rewarding, there are times I miss my old jobs in the AHA affiliates. On any

Mary Rasmussen joins her hands together in appreciation of AHA volunteers and Training Centers.

given day I’d meet survivors and volunteers, and be knee-deep in everything from CPR to stroke to cardiovascular diseases.

It gave me a lasting appreciation for the health care professionals, first responders and volunteers who not only teach people how to save lives but regularly save lives themselves. AHA wouldn’t exist without these amazing people. We may coalesce the science but they’re the ones literally doing the work. Our mission wouldn’t be possible without them.

It sounds so simple, but a whole lot of effort goes into making it happen.

Take Mike Taylor, our 2016 Southern Tier (New York) Volunteer of the Year. His embrace of AHA’s CPR in Schools effort led to the New York State Board of Regents approving the addition of Hands-Only CPR training to the school curriculum. In one New York district, he and his team achieved 100% HOCPR compliance – 100% of students, 100% of teachers, faculty and staff, 100% of bus drivers, and 100% of the Board of Directors have successfully been trained. Amazing!

Then there are volunteers such as Beth Mancini (University of Texas at Arlington), Bryan Fischberg (Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School) and Peter Fromm (South Nassau Communities Hospital in New York). They logged countless miles and time away from families and career responsibilities to share their specialized knowledge at multiple ECC Regional Conferences.

Kay Eddleman of the Ochsner Health System Training Center in New Orleans has served many roles, but her most important one may be supervising the Training Center’s course quality, sharing everything from policies to forms to supportive encouragement without hesitation. Further, as project lead on the merged Louisiana and Mississippi ECC Committee, she made sure that all Heart Walks in the region this year were staffed with volunteers conducting HOCPR demonstrations.

Finally there is Captain Jeff Dropkin, New England Regional ECC Committee member and New Hampshire paramedic. As an AHA BLS, ACLS and PALS Instructor, he firmly believes that when the public is aware of and educated about when and how to perform CPR and use an AED, lives are saved. That conviction brought to life is directly responsible for the bystander response that saved a young boy’s life this year.

As we look back on 2016, I want to thank Mike, Beth, Brian, Peter, Kay, Jeff and all AHA volunteers and all Training Centers that serve our mission day after day. Consider their impact and multiplier effect. These are responders encouraging others to do the same with good, high-quality resuscitation.

Really, though, how can you say thank you enough to someone who saves a life? The closest I can get is to follow their lead and make sure I’m current on my CPR training so I’m prepared to act should the need arise.

We are here to save lives. It’s a common and simple goal, but a whole lot of energy goes into making it happen. And for those who make that effort, I am grateful.

In advance of Thanksgiving, the following post was written by Brian Eigel, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of ECC for ECC staff. We invite you to respond in the comments section with your thoughts on what you are thankful for this season.  

On Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving – a time when we reflect back on our year, consider the good that has happened, and publicly express our gratitude to family and friends. As my work family and friends I want to take a moment to share my thanks with each of you.

This Thanksgiving, as I reflect on the journey we’ve had this year, I think back to what I shared with you all in my early days in this role and what I continue to be grateful for now:

• I’m thankful for your passion, dedication and commitment to our mission that is changing the world and transforming our impact.
• I’m thankful that you’ve inspired me to think the unthinkable and dream the impossible by doing this yourselves, by remaining curious, and by asking “what if”.
• Most importantly, I’m thankful for you. We are amazing people delivering incredible results.

Lastly, I know that we remain as busy as ever, with high expectations to meet and exceed our prior great accomplishments while at the same transforming and inventing how we will create extraordinary impact in the future.  I know that every day you are going above and beyond to support our team in all of the work that we do for the AHA and for that I wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart, how truly thankful I am to be a member of your team.  Your contributions as a teammate, friend and leader are felt each and every day!

I hope that you, your family, friends and loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Thanks,

Brian