Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and some of our community partners had a unique opportunity to celebrate life with 28 sudden cardiac arrest survivors who beat the odds.
The District hosted the fifth biennial reunion breakfast Saturday, February 8, at the Tualatin Country Club, where survivors and their families gathered with some of the people who took action to save their lives.
By bringing together survivors with bystanders who performed CPR, 911 dispatchers, law enforcement officers, emergency response paramedics, and health professionals entrusted with their care, attendees had an opportunity to re-connect and thank those who took part in their chain of survival.
This year, survivors who attended previous years’ events also had the chance to visit with fellow survivors and share their stories.
For many who attended, it was encouraging to see so many cardiac arrest survivors in the same room. It was an incredible reflection on the progress the emergency medical system has made over the years.
Our region is fortunate to have partner agencies that train and work together seamlessly on incidents to ensure the best possible care and outcomes for patients. The increase in publicly accessible automated external defibrillators, community members willing to perform hands-only CPR, and the availability of the free PulsePoint smartphone application that notifies the public and off-duty firefighters when someone is in need of CPR nearby also strengthen the chain of survival of cardiac patients.
In our area this past year, there were more than 4,000 cardiac-related emergencies — 450 of these were cardiac arrests. For those who happen to be nearby when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest, the choices they make and actions they take are vitally important. We know that every precious second counts in an emergency and in life.
We ask you to join us in helping to save more lives by learning hands-only CPR and downloading the PulsePoint app. We believe that the strength of an entire community fighting side by side will ultimately prove to be more powerful than the nation’s No. 1 killer — heart disease.
TVF&R will be teaming up with Tigard Police and Valley Catholic students on Saturday, Feb. 22, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to teach hands-only CPR to Washington Square Mall visitors. Come see us near Macy’s and practice this lifesaving skill.