Working together saves lives Published Feb. 6, 2015 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- It started out like any other day. Ed Hall, an aircraft mechanic with the 560th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, had been looking forward to getting off work the afternoon of Dec. 9. He had an important appointment to keep. His son was getting married in January and he was going to be his best man. A tuxedo fitting was in the works. He had been outside for a moment with a work truck, getting ready to come back inside Bldg. 2390 before he left for the day. He rounded one side of the building, and then it happened - he passed out. It was almost time for the shift change. The first person who saw Hall lying on the ground was William McBride, who immediately assessed Hall and discovered he wasn't breathing. Not hesitating, he went back inside to get coworkers to call 911. Chain of survival It's at this point that critical communication must be relayed in order for the chain of survival to begin, according to Steven Brown, American Heart Association program director at Robins. In the case of Hall, every person who played a role - from the time he collapsed until his trip to the hospital - contributed to saving his life. It began with the first person who arrived on scene who found Hall. Immediate action was taken once the victim was assessed and found to not be breathing. "From what I've read, everyone did what they were supposed to do. They worked together using a coordinated response," said Brown, who receives a report on every instance an AED is used at Robins. It's crucial for word to quickly move along the chain to establish the link for emergency assistance, the call to 911. As that call was being made and help was on the way, other things can be happening at the same time to increase the chances of survival. Several aircraft mechanics who were there that afternoon included Gregory Kimble-Wilder who grabbed an AED and brought it to the scene. David Hattan attached the AED to Hall, and supported him to ensure a proper airway. As employees performed CPR, Roger Bunn applied the machine's pads to Hall's chest. Eric Barnett, a sheet metal mechanic, found Hall didn't have a pulse and directed the delivery of the AED, continuing life-saving measures until the ambulance arrived. "I'm glad it worked out the way it did, and I'm just glad I was there," said Barnett. "It's a miracle - nothing short of that." Hall survived. He had suffered a heart attack that sent him into cardiac arrest. It took four shocks to get his heart to come back up, said Hall's wife, Teresa, who works in Bldg. 301. She remembers coming out of the building that very afternoon. She'd heard the sirens, not knowing her husband of 30 years was on the way to the hospital. How the AED works The AED is a lightweight, portable device which delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. Everything on the AED is clearly labeled, from the on switch to the photos that accompany the adhesive electrodes clarifying where to place them. Its built-in computer includes a voice prompt that lets you know step-by-step what to do and when to do it. It assesses whether defibrillation is needed and if a rescuer needs to press the shock button. "The AED will tell you what to do," said Brown, a former Air Force medic and EMT. "They're made so a layperson can use them." First, make sure the scene is safe and secure. Then expose the victim's chest area and turn on the machine. The machine advises when to place the pads on the chest; when to plug in a connector; when it will analyze the heart's rhythm; when bystanders should stand clear of the area; when a shock will be administered; and when to begin another cycle of CPR - whether it's through chest compressions or mouth-to-mouth. "It's so important for medical personnel to arrive. Once on scene, they can push the medication that's needed for more definitive care," he said. Truly blessed As several of the men gathered Jan. 26 in Bldg. 2390 to receive the Command Civilian Award for Valor, Ed Hall was able to share conversation and laughter. His wife looked on, realizing how things could've gone the other way. In January, he attended his son's wedding as best man. And, he celebrated another milestone - he turned 55. "Just to see him talking to the men who responded so quickly... they don't realize how that affects our family," said Teresa. "To step up and not think about anything else? We feel truly blessed." Hall said his doctor told him he only had a few precious minutes. If his co-workers hadn't been there on time ... "I really don't know what I can say," he said. "They kept me alive long enough to go to the hospital. How grateful can I be to someone for something like this? I can't put it into words."