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  1. #1

    Default Six years. (AEDs)

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    It's hard to believe that it's about six years since I first started banging my drum about defibrillators on this forum. I think that the message has got across to a degree, but there's still a long way to go, particularly since it's obvious that the biggest killer in the industry appears to be gradient shocks when setting poles amongst live wires. Situations that result in the type of shock that AEDs can help recover a heartbeat from. So here's a quick sum-up of what's been posted in the past.

    The whole AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) story starts in the early days of American linework when the fatality rate was so high that the electrical companies approached an electrical engineer and paid him to study the possibility of using a shock to recover the heartbeat of a shocked lineman. Initially the research centred on the use of a transformer on a cart which was used to deliver large AC shocks to try and cause whole heart contraction to restore uniform sync to it. It evolved over time (discovering CPR along the way) to the modern units that provide very safe and accurate pulses of current to maximise the possibility of resyncing the patients heart.

    Y'see, the human body has a bit of a weakness when it comes to electric shock.... The heart. It relies on a large number of muscles beating in sync to create bloodflow to the brain and body, and when a shock is received that affects part of the heart it can knock the muscles out of sync and stop the pumping action from occurring properly. This is where the defibrillator comes into play. A modern defibrillator applies very complex analysis to the remaining heartbeat and will only recommend a shock if it knows that the heart is in a state of fibrillation. It will not apply a shock if the heart is beating properly or sadly if it is flatlined. The heart has a very characteristic electrical pattern when beating and the modern units can analyse what's left of the heartbeat and apply a synchronising pulse at EXACTLY the correct point in time to maximise the chances of recovery.

    It's VERY important that if a lineman is shocked in a life threatening manner that assistance is given as fast as possible. For every second that passes the chance of survival drops at an alarming rate. Even before the AED is applied the rescuers should be applying heart compressions to keep the oxygenated blood in the body flowing to the brain.

    When an AED is opened it gives spoken instructions on the placement of the pads that are used to monitor the heart and apply treatment. It then prompts for breaks in the CPR while it analyses the heartbeat, advising on the best treatment as it does so.

    AEDs are not big clumsy or specialist machines any more. They are readily available units that can be bought for home use by any individual. they typically cost in the region of $1000 which is less than many tools associated with linework. They are rugged machines that can safely be chucked in the cab of a linetruck as part of the first-aid kit.

    Any industry that involves working with live power should have these machines issued to all crews doing that work. It's just common sense that a machine ORIGINALLY INVENTED FOR LINEMEN should be carried by them.

    Sadly, every year deaths get reported on this forum that could have been prevented if the crew had an AED in their truck. The good news is that more of you ARE carrying AEDs, most likely as a result of the coverage on this forum, and when one does its work and saves a life then that's a story that usually DOESN'T appear here. (Although it would be nice to hear about them too.)

    In the future AL line-crews will have AEDs on hand. You can make that happen sooner by raising this issue at your next safety meeting. Imagine how good it would feel if you saved a co-workers life and new that his kids didn't lose their dad that day because you saved him.

    So make sure your employer knows that AEDs were invented for linemen and that you'd like yours now.
    Portable defibrillators were first invented to save the lives of linemen. Where's yours?

    www.bigclive.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    1,716

    Default

    Just replaced that batteries in ours on Friday!
    Last edited by duckhunter; 04-14-2012 at 09:41 PM. Reason: spelling
    Note to self, just because it pops into my head doesn't mean it should come out of my mouth.

  3. #3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BigClive View Post
    It's hard to believe that it's about six years since I first started banging my drum about defibrillators on this forum. I think that the message has got across to a degree, but there's still a long way to go, particularly since it's obvious that the biggest killer in the industry appears to be gradient shocks when setting poles amongst live wires. Situations that result in the type of shock that AEDs can help recover a heartbeat from. So here's a quick sum-up of what's been posted in the past.

    The whole AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) story starts in the early days of American linework when the fatality rate was so high that the electrical companies approached an electrical engineer and paid him to study the possibility of using a shock to recover the heartbeat of a shocked lineman. Initially the research centred on the use of a transformer on a cart which was used to deliver large AC shocks to try and cause whole heart contraction to restore uniform sync to it. It evolved over time (discovering CPR along the way) to the modern units that provide very safe and accurate pulses of current to maximise the possibility of resyncing the patients heart.

    Y'see, the human body has a bit of a weakness when it comes to electric shock.... The heart. It relies on a large number of muscles beating in sync to create bloodflow to the brain and body, and when a shock is received that affects part of the heart it can knock the muscles out of sync and stop the pumping action from occurring properly. This is where the defibrillator comes into play. A modern defibrillator applies very complex analysis to the remaining heartbeat and will only recommend a shock if it knows that the heart is in a state of fibrillation. It will not apply a shock if the heart is beating properly or sadly if it is flatlined. The heart has a very characteristic electrical pattern when beating and the modern units can analyse what's left of the heartbeat and apply a synchronising pulse at EXACTLY the correct point in time to maximise the chances of recovery.

    It's VERY important that if a lineman is shocked in a life threatening manner that assistance is given as fast as possible. For every second that passes the chance of survival drops at an alarming rate. Even before the AED is applied the rescuers should be applying heart compressions to keep the oxygenated blood in the body flowing to the brain.

    When an AED is opened it gives spoken instructions on the placement of the pads that are used to monitor the heart and apply treatment. It then prompts for breaks in the CPR while it analyses the heartbeat, advising on the best treatment as it does so.

    AEDs are not big clumsy or specialist machines any more. They are readily available units that can be bought for home use by any individual. they typically cost in the region of $1000 which is less than many tools associated with linework. They are rugged machines that can safely be chucked in the cab of a linetruck as part of the first-aid kit.

    Any industry that involves working with live power should have these machines issued to all crews doing that work. It's just common sense that a machine ORIGINALLY INVENTED FOR LINEMEN should be carried by them.

    Sadly, every year deaths get reported on this forum that could have been prevented if the crew had an AED in their truck. The good news is that more of you ARE carrying AEDs, most likely as a result of the coverage on this forum, and when one does its work and saves a life then that's a story that usually DOESN'T appear here. (Although it would be nice to hear about them too.)

    In the future AL line-crews will have AEDs on hand. You can make that happen sooner by raising this issue at your next safety meeting. Imagine how good it would feel if you saved a co-workers life and new that his kids didn't lose their dad that day because you saved him.

    So make sure your employer knows that AEDs were invented for linemen and that you'd like yours now.
    Has it been THAT Long Clive, since you and I talked about this, and we created this graphic?? Really??? 7 years!!! DA$M!!!!

    I know this isn't the one we finally decided on...but it is the only one I could find on short notice. Very interesting... Duckhunter's Utility, evidently has the AED, and quite obviously, they are maintaing the devices on their Trucks. "One small Step for Linemen".

    Attached Images Attached Images  

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    ireland/ Dublin
    Posts
    2,119

    Default MY mission

    I'm on a mission Clive. I'm wording a letter to bring into "head office" next week. I'm in there on a course next week.

    I am also involved with a karate club in Ireland. We've about 80 kids of all ages. When we oppened 5 years ago we bought a DE FIB.and we (the committe) all did the training. We've had two refresser courses since then. And a few battery changes.

    They have a DE FIB in the offices in Perth. So I'm gonna put pressure on them when I'm in there.
    I had never thought of a de fib as a requirement for our line gang untill I looked into it AFTER READING "CLIVES" tag line. THANKS for the heads up. That's what forums should be used for.

    I had a few more immediate saftey things to get sorted first. Pole top reescue is becoming an issue. They have changed the technique and NO ONE will "sign off" the new technique. I've got us first aid training in a couple of weeks. They reckon every 3 years is time enough.

    BUT ! I'm not SHY so I will be on their case next week when I'm at the offices.
    IF IT WASN'T FOR BAD LUCK WE WOULD HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL. !

  5. #5

    Default Keep going !!

    I'm a community first responder down here in Essex in my spare time and can certainly vouch for the defib. It must not be forgotten that the whole chain is key to survival so whilst the shocks are absolutely vital if the heart is in VF, good regular CPR practice is important too.

    We practice at least once a month and teach it as well which I find keeps the skills up.

    Another good selling point to the employers is that crews out on the road can also save members of the public suffering from a cardiac arrest and I'm sure the media departments of the big firms would love the publicity around it rather than having to try and duck the news of another lost lineman.

    I believe hand on heart they should be mandatory in all workplaces, just as a first aid kit is in the UK.

    Stu

  6. #6

    Default

    I think that WAS the poster we put out Swampy. It's weird enough to make people take a second look, and quite disturbing when you realise it's someone trying to resuscitate their buddy up a pole. The full story behind that picture is that the guy doing the resuscitating was an apprentice and the injured guy did survive.

    The actual history of the AED in the early days makes interesting reading. It's kinda strange that the whole reason it first came about is because of the linework industry.

    What's really repulsive is that some companies have AEDs in their offices for the office staff, but the guys working on live electrical equipment who SHOULD have them don't.
    Portable defibrillators were first invented to save the lives of linemen. Where's yours?

    www.bigclive.com

  7. #7

    Default the picture

    Here is the whole story on that picture.
    http://jacksonville.com/news/florida...pher_for_the_t

  8. #8

    Default

    We have two AED's to share for four crews, with the advice from managemant, if you need it take it. They are stored in the GF's office. I just found out last week that our company made a $5000 donation to a local police department to purchase AED's. Shows what they think of us dosen't it. Can anyone tell me how I'll know if I'll need a AED or not on any particular day?

  9. #9

    Default

    Yes. If the day ends in a "Y" you need it with you. Or more accurately, any time you are likely to be working in the vicinity of live power. And that includes the possibility of having to leave a "dead" job to go and work on a live fault.

    So AEDs every day. In fact they should never be removed from the truck other than for use or maintenance.

    They could easily have used part of that "charity" money to buy the other two AEDs for you guys. I guess they don't think your lives are cumulatively worth a couple of grand.

    One day a utility company is going to be taken to court for failing to provide what I regard as an essential tool of the trade. At that point the other utilities might start taking attention, but if AEDs are legally enforced at that point in time then their prices will skyrocket as the corporate looters cash in on the latest profit maker.

    You might want to mention to your employer that a couple of AEDs are a fraction of the price of the "inconvenience" of a dead worker.
    Portable defibrillators were first invented to save the lives of linemen. Where's yours?

    www.bigclive.com

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Posts
    549

    Post AED's for crews

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    We have had AED's that are carried by the Lead Lineman on each of our three crews for about 7-8 years however what your campaign made me think about is we have several employees (apparatus and serviceman) who normally work by them selves. Occasionially we group these guys together for a day or part of a day for some oddball job. Therefore 5 years ago we bought a fourth AED that sets in the office unless we are using a temp crew then the senior man on that temp crew takes the AED. If you are wondering what is an oddball job it changing the TYPE of metering on a commercial service or replacing a substation recloser or regulator etc.

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