The Norman Regional Health Foundation (NRHF) wants to make sure that all Oklahomans are seconds away from life-saving care in the event of a cardiac occurrence. On more of a local level, they’ll be donating an AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, to the Blanchard Little League Association.
The donation will provide them with access to a potentially life-saving device that will always be on-site at their games.
The donation comes after a recent scare at the facility. Last year, Bobby Jackson was coaching his granddaughter’s little league game there, when suddenly he collapsed on the court. Luckily, in attendance at that same game was a pair of seasoned firefighters with emergency response experience. They knew it was urgent. Coach Bobby had gone into cardiac arrest.
CPR was administered and an ambulance was called. The firefighters, including one who is a Newcastle resident, knew that every moment was critical, so a medical bag was brought in and a defibrillator was placed on Bobby. He was shocked twice on the floor. The life-saving measures continued throughout the ambulance ride to Norman Regional Hospital.
Thanks to everyone’s quick efforts, Bobby was going to be okay.
According to the CDC, about 9 in 10 people who have cardiac arrest outside the hospital die.
A spokesperson for the NRHF said they want to make sure as many Oklahomans have access to life-saving measures such as defibrillators and CPR before arriving to the hospital. The president of the Blanchard Little League Association recently accepted the AED from NRHF on behalf of the association.
