Medical technology is one of today’s major swords against random diseases and bodily malfunctions. In the past, getting sick was a haunting thought that induced unpleasant feelings. There were so many questions and anonymous instances that remained unanswered. Today, we do not face the same fate. There are various breakthroughs in medical technology that have helped save and improve the lives of people all around the world.
Here are some of them.
Defibrillators And CPR
Source: ShutterstockDefibrillators are some of the most remarkable machines ever created. They can establish a heartbeat after it has stopped. Technically, this machine can shock life into an individual when it is applied at the right time. Using a defibrillator or CPR increases any victim’s chances of survival after experiencing cardiac arrest.
For those who do not know, cardiac arrest is a prevalent condition that affects approximately 300,000 people every year. It consists of the victim’s heartbeat stopping completely. If this condition is not immediately treated, the victim can potentially die, as the brain’s oxygen supply decreases.
Defibrillators and CPRs can help more than half of America’s cardiac arrest victims survive. Here are the stories of three amazing individuals who have experienced death and received the magical shock that gave their heart ammunition to beat.
62 Year-Old Steve
Source: ShutterstockSteve was exercising on a treadmill at the gym. For him, his health is a priority. Despite being active, something happened that he could not prepare for. While running, his heart stopped beating. Steve immediately fell to the floor. Luckily, some bystanders knew how to perform CPR and used a defibrillator. This was just enough to save Steve’s life. This gave his heart the necessary energy that was needed to send oxygen to his unconscious brain.
Teenagers Used CPR To Save Teammate
Cardiac attacks don’t always affect elderly people. Younger people could be victims, too, hitting them at the most unexpected time.
A sports team consisting of 13-year-old girls experienced an unforgettable moment during their big game. After running, Paris began to have an episode of cardiac arrest.
Source: ShutterstockFortunately, all of the teens had taken a CPR class in school. While Paris laid on the ground, little time passed before Taylor decided to take the initiative and used her CPR skills. Taylor’s expertise helped Paris’s body to remain oxygenated enough to survive. Shortly after, the paramedics arrived with a defibrillator.
The girl survived and felt grateful. She appreciated the life-saving combination of Taylor’s CPR and the defibrillator.
A Professional Athlete’s Heart Wins A Match
Source: Shutterstock35-year-old Kevin McCloy played as a full-back on the Gaelic football team. He had won the national league title and achieved other accomplishments that gave him a very successful career. McCloy thought that his health was in tip-top condition until he had cardiac arrest at a Wednesday game.
Luckily, trained professionals who knew how to use defibrillators were there during their big games. The staff worked to make sure that his body was getting the oxygen that it needed. He was then admitted into Altnagelvin Hospital so that he could be further treated and monitored. Eventually, Kevin McCloy regained consciousness that Friday.
Now, McCloy lives his life without football by focusing on work and family. He also has a defibrillator that is inserted into his body. It sends an immediate shock to his heart whenever it stops beating. While he’s sleeping, his heart is also on a monitor. His heartbeat and patterns are downloaded and sent into the local hospital for further treatment.
Today’s defibrillators are a medical approach to a magical solution that will forever help us avoid tragedy and early death. These individuals’ stories are representations of the massive amounts of people that defibrillators and CPR have rescued. We may not know why our hearts decide to stop beating. Fortunately, we do know that we are capable of encouraging it to come back to life.
