In Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, the fire department thanked the team members for saving their lives by using an AED and giving a heart massage to an elementary school student who suddenly lost consciousness while practicing basketball in February. A letter was given.

On the 17th, a ceremony to present a letter of appreciation was held at the Saitama Western Fire Department in Tokorozawa City, and the director of the fire department, Nobuo Kishi, handed a letter of appreciation to five people, including the coaches and parents of the basketball team.



In February, when a 6th grade girl suddenly collapsed during a basketball practice held at a civic gymnasium, the five members immediately went to get an AED and called 119 to cooperate. Then I took lifesaving measures.



One of the five parents was a nurse who confirmed the pulse of the girl child but could not confirm it, and the people around him cooperated to press the AED button, perform cardiac massage and artificial breathing. ..

As a result, heartbeats and breathing resumed before the arrival of the ambulance crew, and the girl child was subsequently rejuvenated.



"I was able to save my precious life with your courageous and swift action. Thank you."



Takashi Goto, the coach who went to get the AED, said that he knew in advance the location of the AED near the reception desk of the gymnasium because he had undergone heart surgery. We were relieved that we were able to save our lives thanks to our cooperation. We decided to have the team check how to use the AED in case something similar happens. "



Also, the nurse, Norie Aoki, works at a hospital in Tokyo, but she is the first to press the AED button.



Mr. Aoki said, "I was really happy when the girl recovered and saw the tears flowing. I was afraid to press the AED button even for myself, who is involved in medical care. I thought it was necessary to keep going, "he said with tears.

AED "Usage rate" begins to decline

According to the Japan AED Foundation, which is promoting the spread of AEDs, more than 70,000 people die suddenly from heart abnormalities such as myocardial infarction every year, and it is important to take measures until an ambulance arrives. ..



The AEDs used for life-saving measures at this time are becoming more widespread, and more than 600,000 units have been installed nationwide.



According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the "usage rate", which indicates the percentage of people who collapsed in front of someone who received an electric shock treatment with an AED, increased year by year, and was 5.1% in 2019, three years ago. However, it turned to a decrease of 4.2% for adults, and the rate of decrease was the largest ever.



The percentage of people who were able to reintegrate into society one month after cardiac arrest, which is an indicator of lifesaving rate, was 7.5% for adults, down from 9% in 2019.



The Japan AED Foundation states that in order to save lives from sudden cardiac arrest, it is important to first call 119, perform a heart massage that presses on the sternum, and give an electric shock due to the AED.



While waiting for the arrival of emergency services can save only 8.2% of people, heart massage can save 12.2% of people, and AED can save 53.2% of people.

Chairman of the "Japan AED Foundation" "Is Korona-ka in the background of the decline in usage rate?"

Dr. Hideo Mitamura, the chairman of the "Japan AED Foundation," said, "As a background to the decline in the usage rate of AEDs, even if there are people who need to use AEDs in front of them because they are worried about the risk of infection due to Korona-ka. I think there were cases where I was hesitant to help. "



On top of that, "Even with corona, there is almost no risk of infection with the use of AED, and breath leaks from the patient's mouth and nose during chest compressions, so it is not necessary to take it if the patient is wearing a mask. If you haven't done so, you can reduce the risk by putting a cloth or handkerchief on the patient's mouth and nose to compress the chest. Using AED increases the chances of saving valuable lives, so be sure to go online. I would like you to take part in the seminars and take the courage to devote yourself to saving the person in front of you, even if it is a corona sickness. "