Man revived with automatic defibrillator at store

By John Hanron
    Sometimes, it pays to be in the right place at the right time.
    A 62-year-old Seattle-area man who stopped at the Mazama Store got a new lease on life after he collapsed and his heart stopped beating Sunday afternoon (July 25).
    According to Cindy Button, a paramedic and director of Aero Methow Rescue Service, the man had just returned from a mountain bike ride and came into the store complaining of not feeling very well. He collapsed and employees quickly responded.
    Store owner Rick LeDuc – an emergency medical technician with Aero Methow and a volunteer with the Mazama Fire Department – assessed the patient, found that he had no pulse and, after having someone call 911, started CPR. After a couple of minutes of that, LeDuc was able to utilize the Automatic External Defibrillator – an AED – that is stationed at the store. After one shock, the patient’s heart started beating in rhythm again.
    An ambulance unit from Winthrop picked up the patient and met with the MedStar helicopter at the Methow Valley State Airport, and they transported the patient to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. As of Tuesday (July 27), the patient was in satisfactory condition, according to Button.
    LeDuc said the AED device was installed in the store at the urging of Aero Methow because it is a congregation place for the community.
    “Hopefully, it’s one of those things you never have to use, but it’s good to have,” said LeDuc. “It was the first time we’ve used it and, it appears, successfully.”
    AEDs have proved to be lifesavers for cardiac patients who receive care before the ambulance arrives. According to one study cited in the Journal of the American College or Cardiology, overall survival rate for all cardiac arrest patients is 7 percent. That number improves slightly to 9 percent for patients who receive CPR before the ambulance arrives, and goes up dramatically to 38 percent for patients who receive an AED shock before advanced emergency care arrives.
    “We have them scattered throughout the whole valley and it’s nice to see one used,” said Button.

Public access AEDs in the Methow Valley
• Bear Creek Lumber
• Cascade Concrete
• Liberty Bell High School
• Methow Valley Elementary
• Loup Loup Ski Hill
• Mazama Store
• MV Backcountry Horseman
• Okanogan County. Electric Co-op has five located in their work trucks
• Pearrygin Lake State Park (2)
• Tice Ranch
• Twisp Pool & NC Heli Ski (in season)
• Winthrop Barn
• Winthrop Chevron
• Winthrop Forest Service
• Winthrop Physical Therapy

Fire Departments:
• Carlton Fire Dept. (on rescue truck)
• District chief’s vehicle
• Mazama Fire Dept. (on rescue truck)
• Twisp Fire Dept. (on rescue truck)
• Winthrop Fire Dept. (on rescue truck)

Photo from the MV News archives: The Mazama Store was a lucky place to be on Sunday for the Seattle man who collapsed there when his heart stopped beating. The store has an Automatic External Defibrillator, and the store owner happens to be an emergency medical technician. The man was revived and sent to hospital in Wenatchee.